This is an excerpt from the full race report by MarathonMTB.com Race Team rider Mike Blewitt. The full report can be viewed on the Team Website
The Grand Raid is a premier event on both the Swiss and International Mountain Bike Marathon calenders. It continually draws a strong international field, good UCI ranking points, and kudos amongst other Marathon racers. You can’t fudge a good result at the Grand Raid. But it is easy to chalk up a disappointing one.
My Grand Raid introduction was in 2010, and it left a mark on me physically, and in my psyche. It is a classic point to point Marathon, traversing the Swiss Alps in the Valais region. Physically, it left me battered. A long day out was marred by a heavy hunger flat and dehydration, potentially a precursor to becoming quite ill three weeks later. But at least a lot of tighter fitting clothes took on a more casual cut!
Being a point to point race with the sign on location near neither the start nor finish presents a logisitcal challenge. I thought I had this sorted out, with a sign on in Sion soon after 11am, park the car, use the bus to get to the wonderful Hotel Mirabeau in Verbier, chill out and get to bed early, use the baggage transport on Saturday morning, then tick of the 40km of extra’s post race back to my waiting hire car in Sion. Then drink some chocolate milk.
Not so easy. The bus transport started at 6:30pm. With the loading and unloading of bikes, people and luggage, this screamed 8pm arrival in Verbier. I had hoped to be fed, watered and thinking about bed at that time. Thankfully Vaughan from MTB Villars came to the rescue and shuttled me up to Verbier. I was settled soon after 3pm.
The town was clearly getting ready for the race, with a road closure in place, and trials demonstrations and kids challenges. Of course, many restaurants had all you can eat pasta deals advertised.
With a 6:30am kick off, and 125km with 5000m+ of vertical, an early start to fuel up is essential. I may have taken things to extremes, using two phone alarms and a wake up call to get me out of bed at 4:20am. But there is nothing worse than starting a big day with undigested breakfast – even this was not quite long enough.