Lap of Lake Geneva cyclosportive

Sunday saw my first sportive of the Summer with a mega early (4am) start for the drive from Chamonix to Lausanne Switzerland for a 6.30am start line for the lap of Lake Geneva.

It's a fantastic event with a distance of 180kms on an undulating course and spectacular scenery by the lake shore. Passing through Montreaux, over the border into France and through Evian, Thonon, then back into Switzerland and through Geneva for the final leg back to Lausanne.

With 1500 on the start line our group managed to start in the fifth peleton (groups of approx 70) and the group were immediately working well. After 15 minutes the group behind us came screaming past on TT bikes. This is a first for me seeing TT bikes and aero helmets in a cyclosportive! Is this normal??!!?? A few of us attempted to hang on but with my heart rate maxing out it was time to back off. One of our guys Neil McNab managed to hang on to within 20kms of the finish line and finished 10 minutes before us.

One of the problems with a Polar computer is the Swiss Rail overhead lines interfere with it. I knew something was wrong when it said my heartbeat was at 220 and I was doing 150 km/h !

After re-grouping with 3 of us from Team Chamonix staying together, our group was working steadily with some strong riders and about 15 of us taking turns on the front. We started to reel in the groups that had started before us and we were averaging nearly 40kms an hour. Initially I was thinking this was too fast for me with the overall distance but I was feeling great and continued to take turns on the front and staying in the first 15. It was soon apparent that no-one was intending stopping at the feed stations so it was rationing drinks and relying on 5 gels.

Over the cobbles through Thonon and onto a short climb before crossing back over the border and a manic late morning blast through Geneva however the organisation was great and the motorbike outriders did a great job.

The last leg down to Lausanne had a few small climbs and in the last 10kms I was starting to suffer, however managed to hang on the back and finishing in 138th position out of 1500 in 4 hrs 35 mins.

Happy with that as I'd targeted 5 hours.

Eyes down now for the Time Megeve on June 12th - entries still open and we have space in the Chalet This is another great event going over the Colombiere, Croix Fry, Aravis and the Saisies - all regulally featured in the Tour de France.

Think this will be a grudge match for Team Chamonix as there is some serious col training and suggested times being banded about!