VCGPExtreme 2024 - 10th edition

 Juubeli ekstreem tehtud ja võidetud! (English below)

Sel aastal oli stardis tervelt kolm eestlast, Ly koos Lauriga olid ka just selleks ürituseks siin, et külastada Portugali ja osa võtta ühest korralikust katsumusest, näha erinevaid paiku ja osa saada toredast korraldusest. Kogu nende puhkusreisile aitas kaasa MTBcamps, kui soovi samuti siin mõnusalt rattaga sõita ja Portugali avastada, siis mine vaata www.mtbcamps.eu

Filipele oli see olla 10. kord ürituse stardis, ehk ainuke võistleja, kes teinud kaasa kõik aastad, minu jaoks oli juba 7. kord.

Etapp 1 - 105 km 2674m+ aeg 6h 9´ koht 1 (üldk. 42 / 115st)

Profiililt alguses siledamalt ja siis viimases veerandis kaks suurt tõusu, mis enamuse tõusumeetritest andsid. Plaan oli minna natuke reserveeritult, et jalga lõpupoole oleks ja alati olla väga tähelepanelik navigeerimisega, et aega ja energiat edasi-tagasi sõitmisele ei raiskaks. Esimeses joogipunkti peatuses olime kahe teise segapaariga veel peaaegu koos, ehk et kui meie lõpetasime enda pudelite täitmise, siis nemad saabusid. Sel aastal oli rekordarv segapaare, tervelt 9. 

Esimesel pikal tõusul peatusin ka ühes külas allikavee kraani juures ja kastsin ennast, kuna kergelt tundsin, et kuumus minu jõudu hakkas ära võtma. Loomulikult peatusime ka teistes kahes joogipunktis, kus sai alati hea külma vee pudelitesse ja ka kehakosutust. 

Viimane tõus oli muidugi tõeline maasikas, 4,5km keskmise tõusunurgaga 12%. Muidugi vaated olid imelised, mida ma ikka proovisin piiluda, et pingutusvalu vähendada ja kuumust unustada. 

Viimased kilomeetrid laskumist ja olime segapaaride võitjatena finishis. Segapaaride ees vähemalt 28´ eelis.

Jalutuskäigud majutusse ja poodiumile ja sööma ja oligi aeg puhata, et hommikul kell 8:30 startida.

Etapp 2 - 82 km 2719m+ aeg 5h 56´ koht 1 (45/109)

Ainult üles-alla kaunitel nõlvadel. Plaan oli alguses korralikult minna ja siis vaadata, kuidas ma vastu pean. Eelmine etapp samuti Filipe oli tiimi tugevam lüli ja minul oli raskem. Esimese tõusu saime väga hästi üle, siis hakkas mind kimbutama kuumus, ehk söök väga sisse ei tahtnud minna ja jõudu jalgades ei olnud, ehk pidevalt kannatasin ja kannustasin end tagant, et liiguks. Nii lõpuni välja, aegade võrdluses erinevates joogipunktides oligi näha, et 10minutilise vahe tegime esimesel tõusul ja siis jäi see sinna pidama. Minu jaoks põhiline oli jõuda lõpuni ja seda tervelt, nii ka suutsime. 

Taaskord jalutuskäigud ja aeg puhata.

Etapp 3 - 99 km 1735m+ aeg 4h 49´ koht 1 (43/112)

Profiililt alguses natuke ronimist ja siis siledamalt ranniku poole. See siledamalt ei tundunud alati väga siledamalt, kuna oli selliseid järsemaid paarisajaseid tõuse, kuid siiski oli ka kiiret liikumist. Plaan oli samuti alguses saada hästi minema ja siis proovida kuskile grupis olla, et endal ka kergem oleks. Sel etapil oli Filipel stardis üllatus, kui hakkas oma rajakaarti lahti tegema, nimelt oli tal see puudu, ehk sel etapil oli navigeerimine täielikult minu õlul. Teadsin, et ka jõu poolest saab mul raskem olema. Viimased 20km olid tegelikult juba täielik piin, kuna olin ikka korralikult alguses punninud ja hiljem ka neid järsemaid tõusu pingtanud, et gruppi, milles olime mitte kaotada, ega mehed selles mõttes ikka proovisid ka ikka maha raputada, kuigi nii mõnigi kord olin mina, kes navigeerimisel neid valesti sõitmisest päästsin. 

Finishis, mina ikka korralikult küpse, aga tehtud ja ka võidetud, sel etapil isegi 35´ vahega, mis siledama etapi kohta ikka korralik. 

Kokku 286km 7128m+ aeg 16h 55´ koht 1 (44/105)

Mõned pildid, tegelikult on neid kauneid fotosid veel, mis jäävad meenutama seda juubeli üritust! 

Jubilee Extreme completed and won!

This year, there were three Estonians at the start. Ly and Lauri were here specifically for this event, to visit Portugal, take on a significant challenge, see various places, and enjoy the wonderful event. Their vacation was organized by MTBcamps. If you also want to ride your bike here and explore Portugal, check out www.mtbcamps.eu.

For Filipe, this was his 10th time at the event, making him the only competitor who has participated every year. Additionally to him, the course maker has been always present and also one of the photographers. For me, it was my 7th time.

Stage 1 - 105 km, 2674m+, time 6h 9´, place 1 (overall 42 / 115)

The profile started off flatter, with two major climbs in the last quarter providing most of the elevation gain. The plan was to go a bit reserved to save strength for the end and to be very attentive with navigation to avoid wasting time and energy. At the first drink station, we were almost together with two other mixed pairs, meaning that when we finished filling our bottles, they were arriving. This year had a record number of mixed pairs, a total of 9.

During the first long climb, I stopped in a village at a spring water fountain to cool off, as I felt the heat was draining my strength. We also stopped at the other two drink stations for cold water and refreshments. The last climb was a real challenge, 4.5 km with an average gradient of 12%. The views were amazing, which I tried to peek at to distract from the pain and heat.

The final kilometers were downhill, and we finished as the winning mixed pair with at least a 28-minute lead. After walking to our accommodation, going to the podium and to eat, it was time to rest for the next morning’s 8:30 start.

Stage 2 - 82 km, 2719m+, time 5h 56´, place 1 (overall 45 / 109)

This stage was all about up and down on beautiful mountains. The plan was to start strong and then see how I could hold up. Filipe was the stronger team member in the previous stage, and it was harder for me. We managed the first climb well, but then the heat started to bother me, making it hard to eat, and my legs felt weak. I constantly had to push myself mentally to keep moving. The times at the drink stations showed that we gained a 10-minute lead on the first climb and maintained it from then on until finish. My main goal was to finish intact, and we succeeded.

Again, walking and resting and sleeping.

Stage 3 - 99 km, 1735m+, time 4h 49´, place 1 (overall 43 / 112)

This stage started with some climbing and then leveled out towards the coast. It wasn’t always as flat as it seemed, with some steeper short climbs, but yet the overall sensation was going quite fast. The plan was to start well and then try to stay in a group to make it easier. Filipe had a surprise at the start when he found his map was missing from the gps device, so navigation was entirely my responsibility. I knew it would also be physically harder for me. The last 20 km were a real struggle for me, as I had pushed hard at the start and on the steeper climbs to stay with the group, which also tried to shake me off. Although, I had helped the group from going the wrong way several times.

At the finish, I was completely empty but happy to have completed and won this stage by 35 minutes, a significant margin for a flatter stage.

Overall: 286 km, 7128m+, time 16h 55´, place 1 (overall 44 / 105)

Some photos from the race, there are actually plenty more to have a nice photo memory from this jubilee event!