Three members of Innisfree Wheelers embarked on the momentous task of taking on the challenge of tackling Europe's toughest cycling challenge - La Marmotte 2010. Alan Kelly, Paul Keogh and Paul Flynn (pictured above - after the event!)headed for the Alps in early July for this years event on Saturday 3rd July.

The event did not disappoint this year in terms of toughness - because of the soaring temperatures (43C at one stage on  Alpe d' Huez) there was a record number of non-finishers and heat-stroke casualties out of the 8,000 competitors. Luckily these did not include any of our three lads who completed the course. Two of them Alan Kelly and Paul Keogh achieving silver medals with the times achieved in their respective categories, while Paul Flynn gained his second consecutive bronze medal in his category.

The 8,000 cyclists began the challenge in the picturesque little alpine village of Bourg De Oisons with the first cyclists rolling out at 7am. By 7:50 the Sligo lads crossed the starting line and had a relatively flat first 10 kilometres before tackling the fist climb - The Glandon.(1,924 metres) This is a continuous climb for 22 kilometres firstly through some shaded forestry area before opening on to an open hairpin mountainous section. By the first feed station on the top of the Glandon all three Innisfree lads had separated with Paul Keogh and Alan Kelly pushing on with some of the leading groups.
 
The descent from the Glandon again this year saw many casualties of punctures and blow-outs as the soaring temperatures took their toll with rims over-heating from the constant braking. As the cyclists reached the valleys before attacking the next climb the temperatures had soared to the high thirties.

The next climb was the infamous Telegraph (1,566 metres).  - a 15 kilometre challenge with an absolute constant gradient of 12%. This climb was done in unrelenting heat with cyclists taking the wrong side of the road seeking some shade from the burning sun directly above. Kelly and Keogh overcame this climb virtually unscathed, but Flynn suffered heat exhaustion on this climb and almost did not make the summit.. Taking a long rest and plenty of fluids at the top he was able to push on but was at this stage well detached from his Innisfree colleagues.

There was a relatively short but steep descent from The Telegraph to the valley that led to the most dreaded and infamous climb the Col De Galibear. (2,642 metres ). That name alone is enough to send shivers up the spines of even the most seasoned cycling climbers. It is a fearsome 17 kilometre climb on open mountain side that begins relatively tamely but after 7 kilometres turns into a fearsome challenge that reaches gradients of up to 18%. Despite the searing heat the Innisfree climbers were met with plenty of snow piled 10 metres high by the roadside as they approached the summit.

It was actually quite cold at the rest stop at the summit of the Col De Galibear and all the cyclists donned their jackets and warmers for the incredible descent of 42 kilometres that lay ahead. There were a few serious accidents on this descent but thankfully all Innisfree three made it to the picturesque valleys unscathed. The cycle back to the village of Bourg De Oisons was quite flat but the relentless heat had returned now and there was still one more climb to be tackled - Alpe d' Huez. (1850 metres )

There is nothing more that can be written about this climb that can describe its sheer toughness. It is just 14 kilometres long with a constant gradient of 15%. Its 21 hairpin bends are now the stuff of legends and each is called after a famous Tour De France climber who won a stage here on this famous climb. By the time Flynn was beginning his ascent of this climb the other two Innisfree Wheelers - Paul Keogh and Alan Kelly were approaching the finishing line of the event. Paul Keogh finished in a great time of 10 hours 3 minutes while Alan Kelly bettered his 2009 time by almost 2 hours finishing just 10 minutes later in 10 hours and 13 minutes. Paul Flynn battled up in the searing heat and finished 15 minutes slower than last year in 12 hours 40 minutes.

As mentioned earlier Paul Keogh and Alan Kelly were presented with their Silver categories - Paul Keogh category 30-39 and Alan Kelly category 40-49 while Flynn received the bronze on his category of 50-59. Keogh and Kelly met the shattered Flynn on the finishing line and all three agreed that this was undoubtedly the toughest challenge that they had ever undertaken. All three swore there and then "NEVER AGAIN".

As Autumn once more approaches and the evenings close in talk among the Innisfree Wheelers will turn to what challenges club tour riders will take on in the summer of 2011. There will be talk of Wicklow, Wales, Etappe De Tour and maybe just maybe another MARMOTTE.

See Paul Flynn's riding profile of Marmotte 2010 here

See some pictures of all three Innisfree lads compete in the event here