Join Mike Cotty and EF-Oatly-Cannondale rider Noemi Rüegg for a reconnaissance ride and sustained effort workout up the iconic Alpe d’Huez. This session begins with a steady warm-up around Bourg d’Oisans before navigating the famous 21 hairpin bends of this epic climb. As the gradient intensifies, settle into a sustainable threshold pace, simulating race conditions and allowing for occasional standing efforts on steeper sections.
Throughout the climb, integrate strategic surges to mimic attack responses and maintain high power outputs. The goal is to balance endurance and power, capturing the essence of this legendary ascent while refining your climbing technique and stamina under the guidance of elite athletes.
It’s on my calendar for Saturday and I expect it to remind me of riding it 32 years ago! Thanks to the magic of SYSTM, this time I’ll be able to have the illusion of keeping up with much faster and younger riders, even at a quarter or a third of their power output! Can’t wait!
I was extremely disappointed with all of the structures at the top of the climb. Tons of hotels and other buildings. I guess France fell into the tourist at any cost thing.
The ride itself was quite interesting and I expect as much of a challenge as the virtual ride provides.
It’s an epic climb and will never disappoint. Did it a month ago and the video gave me the exact numbers for HR and Power although it took longer for the real deal
Thats brilliant, I did Zwifts version recently so keen to try Wahoo’s, the on location videos I took a look I really good, much more engaging than what I am used to.
Looking forward to trying this. Did it for real on Sunday, for the TdF Femmes Challenge, then watched the race after. Great day out. Got kids kids into it with polka dot t-shirts and cowbells.
Finally was able to do this workout yesterday. It feels a bit like a benchmark workout - not quite 9 hammers or Ventoux but definitely similar in its effect. I really enjoyed it and suspect it would work well as an alternative or addition to the FTP progression workouts.
@Rupert.H Is the workout designed in advance or are power files from the riders being used in a way that is similar to how the ProRides work? I couldn’t tell but it does seem like the power matches the grades. What threw me off was that I would expect to climb in the 80% to 85% of threshold range versus 100% but perhaps the grade requires something more.
Had ISLAGIATT in my plan for today but, for one reason or another, didn’t have 2 hours available so plumped for this instead. What a great workout! Also - and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong - Sir Standsalot did not seem to stand even once!
