€650.00 – €1 ,500.00
Coaching camp to assist with qualification for the UCI Granfondo World Championship at the GF Vosges on May 19
Booking instructions:
if more than two months before the start date, please use the coupon code “deposit” to pay 20%.
Two months prior to departure, please return to this page and use the coupon code “balance” to pay 80%.
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Dates: 15-19 May 2024
Purpose of the camp
This 4-day coaching camp is designed to give you the best chance to qualify for the UCI GranFondo World Championships at the GF Vosges on Sunday May 19. The camp will begin in the evening of Wed May 15 and will include a thorough reconnaissance of key parts of the route on Thursday and Friday. Saturday will be an easy day before the race on Sunday.
The coach to rider ratio will be 1:6 or better, so you will have plenty of 1-1 coaching. There will be a strong focus on race technique, both on the bike and during the Coach’s Corner sessions in the evening. We will include presentations on topics such as analysing the event, making a race plan, bike-handling and positioning in the peloton, managing energy, nutrition as well as specific race tactics. You have the opportunity for a daily debrief with a coach.
We will give you an Alpine Cols jersey, but it is not mandatory to wear it!
Read below and click on the tabs for more.
Is this coaching camp for you?
YES: if you want to qualify for the UCI Granfondo World Championships in Aalborg (29 Aug to 1 Sept. 2024).
YES: if you want to ride a Granfondo in the Vosges.
YES: if you want to make friends and have fun with other like-minded people.
NO: if you are essentially a leisure rider with no particular interest in riding faster.
Programme
Here is the programme for the camp, including the activities and coaching focus for each day and the distance/elevation you can expect to ride.Date | Activities | Coaching Focus | Distance & Elevation |
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Wed | Arrival day: formal start to the camp at 18:30 | Event analysis, creaing a race plan | - |
Thu | Reconnaissance of the course 1/2 | Bike-handling for safety and perfomance | 40-80km | 1,200 - 1,500m |
Fris | Reconnaissance of the course 2/2 | Positioning, managing energy, eating & drinking | 40-80km | 1,200 - 1,500m |
Sat | Recovery & preparation | Recap key points for a successul ride | 20-30km | 500m |
Sun | Granfondo or Mediofondo Vosges Camp ends: departure | Qualifying for the UCI Granfondo World Championship | 178km | 3,500m or 122km | 2,700m |
Wednesday May 15
Arrive at the hotel in the Vosges.
The hotel is about two-thirds of the way between Colmar and Gérardmer. The nearest airports are Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg at 94km and Strasbourg at 112km.
If you arrive early enough, there will be time to set up your bike and do a short ride in the afternoon.
The camp begins with a welcome drink and briefing at 18:30, followed by dinner with the coaches and other riders. The briefing will focus on the following topics:
- Programme for the camp
- Analysis of the event
- How to create a race plan to match your race-day tactics to your event objectives.
Thursday May 16
The purpose of the camp is to give you the best possible chance of qualifying for the UCI Granfondo World Championships. The two rides, on Thursday and Friday, will therefore both include a detailed reconnaissance of key points of the course in order to familiarise you with not only the start and the finish but also the other notable choke points on the course, the approach to the climbs, the more dangerous junctions or descents, narrow stretches of road, possible cross-winds and anything else of note.
The coaches will be very attentive to your bike-handling skills and will have you practice looking up and around people, moving up the group, accelerating, using the drops, drinking without looking at the bottle, eating at the right times, etc…
The evening session will focus on:
- Feedback on skills observed during the ride
- Bike handling for safety and performance
- The constant battle for position in the peloton and the best ways to move up
Friday May 17
Reconnaissance of the second part of the route and continued practice of your bike-handling skills. The coaches will help you identify the points in the route where you must make your efforts to be nearer the front at the right times, and the other points where it is crucial to save energy.
The evening session will focus on:
- Nutrition: when to eat and drink.
- Managing your energy
- When to relax and sit in the wheels
- How to avoid wasting energy; closing a gap with the least effort
Saturday May 18
The day before the race is best treated as a recovery day, with no more than a short, easy spin and perhaps a few accelerations. You may care to take another look at the first few kilometres after the start, and the last few kilometres before the finish.
Otherwise, we recommend that you check your bike (with our assistance if needed), prepare your kit and your nutrition for Sunday and then relax in the hotel spa. There will be plenty of time for one-on-one feedback from the coach.
The evening session will focus on:
- Logistics briefing for the event and for the end of the camp
- Reminder of the key points to bear in mind for a successful ride
Sunday May 19
Race Day: ride either the Granfondo (178km) or the Mediofondo (122km)
If you wish to qualify for the UCI Granfondo World Championship you must ride the appropriate event. Males aged 19 to 59 must ride the Granfondo. Females and males aged 60+ must ride the Mediofondo. You will qualify if you finish in the top 25% of your category.
For more details, go to the GF Vosges event website.
The Alpine Cols coaches will also ride the event and will do everything they can to help you and the other participants to reach your goals.
The camp concludes once you have finished the race. If you intend to fly home the same evening, we suggest you book the latest flight possible (certainly not before 7pm).
If you wish to spend an extra night at the hotel, please contact us to make the booking.
Chalet Hôtel Le Collet & Spa 3*
We will be staying at the Chalet Hôtel Le Collet & Spa 3*, which is a delightful hotel in the heart of the Ballons des Vosges national park and just 5 km from the start and finish of the GF Vosges.
The hotel includes a spa which will be pefect for relaxation on Saturday, before the race on Sunday.
15 to 19 May 2024
Package price (twin-share): €1,300
Single supplement: €200
We offer a 5% “welcome back” discount to all returnees, and a 10% discount for a second trip in the same year. Ask us for the code!
Please note we need a minimum of 6 participants for this camp to be viable. If we need to cancel we will refund you any monies you may have paid, including your deposit.
Your money is safe
As required by EU law, your payments are fully protected by an approved insurance policy against the very unlikely event of financial failure/insolvency of Alpine Cols. Full details are on the page “About Us“.
What’s included
- Accommodation
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner, including drinks with the meal)
- On-the-bike coaching
- On-the-road support vehicle with free energy drinks and snacks
- Mechanical assistance
- Coach’s Corner evening sessions on cycling performance
- Photographs and videos taken during the camp (digital copies)
Not included
- Travel to the camp location
- Bicycle hire (ask for a quote)
- Minibar or drinks at the hotel bar
- Coffee or snacks during café stops
- Massage (optional extra)