Participating in a stage of the Tour de France is already a challenge.
Competing in both the men's and women's stages is a huge physical and mental commitment.
But for Anne-Sophie Margueritte, it was above all a human adventure .
Route Captain
On these two stages of the tour, I was a road captain. Road captains are assigned to the starting corrals, beginning with corral 5 for the men's stage and corral 4 for the women's stage. Our role is to support the riders, answer their questions about the race organization (aid supplies, time limits, difficulty, etc.). My participation was therefore primarily an adventure and a shared experience; there was no time goal this time. Nevertheless, it remains a great sporting objective.
An ultra-cyclist's kit
I don't have a planned training program; I ride for pleasure, and my background in ultra-cycling (500km and 1200km races) allows me to be relatively comfortable with this format. I did, however, do some long rides at the beginning of the season, notably the two-day Tour du Mont Blanc in June. Overall, I do a fair amount of cross-training: trail running, mountaineering, and cycling, which allows me to handle these kinds of days with over 4000m of elevation gain.
A long “bla bla ride”
The famous Col de la Madeleine... in pairs
Beyond effort: good nutrition
This year I'm trying to pay more attention to my diet. I've realized that eating only sugary foods over long periods encourages hypoglycemia. Whereas bars containing both carbohydrates and fats really make a difference during long efforts.
On the first stage, I mainly carried dry goods, including oatmeal bars and chocolate peanut butter bars (my favorite from COOKNRUN). That was practically all I had, plus a few fruit jellies and a stop at the aid station for a little something savory. Cormet de Roselend .
For the second stage, I wanted to alternate more between solid and liquid foods, so I had bars (the same ones) and fruit compotes. I like alternating between the two; the bars are more nutritionally interesting, but alternating solid and liquid foods works well for me.
The cold, the rain, and the real finish line
After reaching the summit of the Madeleine, the descent was icy, and Like many others, I had no equipment. When I arrived in Saint François, I honestly thought I'd never be able to continue. I took shelter as best I could, ate, and finally managed to set off again. Les Étapes du Tour involves a lot of logistics, and even though the clock stops when you cross the finish line, I feel like it only truly stops when you've made it home ;)
From cycling for pleasure to the role of captain
This double challenge allows me to realize how far I've come in just a few years. I started cycling 3-4 years ago, and today I have the opportunity to participate in this stage to support and encourage the riders. For many, simply finishing is a challenge in itself, and being here in this role of team captain is a great accomplishment.
Whether it's a Tour study or any other challenge (a mountain race, a paragliding flight, a long-distance event, a marathon...), the key is to find something that motivates you to train, push your limits, and make you proud. Be passionate!
