Grand Trophée - La Marmotte: Ciavatti continues Italian dominance

ALPE D'HUEZ - What the Maratona or Oetztaler is for Italians, Austrians and Germans is the Marmotte for the Benelux and French cyclo enthusiasts. A 174km hardcore ride through the Alps with 5000 hm covering the Col du Glandon, Col de la Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and last but not least the ascent to Alpe d'Huez. A royal Tour de France stage!

The Dutch love this race in particular as nearly half of the 6000 to 7000 participants each year come from the low country. But since a few years it's the Italians who dominate the race up front. As in the Oetztaler, however, every rider crossing the finish line is a winner.

After some very nasty accidents the past three years, attendance dropped slightly with 6000 doing the standard Marmotte, and some 500 the shorter cyclotour from Valloire to the Alpe.

Emmanuele Negrini, winner in 2005 and 2006, was absent but his role was taken up by Andrea Ciavatti from Rimini. The professional soldier dropped his compatriot Giovanni Maiello (who took victory in the Fausto Coppi last week) in the final climb to finish in 6h00'56". Stefano Sala, twice second behind Negrini, was now third in 6h03'47". Michel Roux and local community worker Patrick Gueraud gave French cycling something to cheer about with fourth and fifth. Feike Loots was the first Dutchman in sixth with 6h14'38". Michel Snel had to settle for ninth, while Oege Hiddema was sidelined after a heavy crash on training a few weeks ago. Former tripple winner Bert Dekker came in 12th.

The time of Ciavatti, interestingly, was nearly 10 minutes slower than Negrini the past 2 years. Ciavatti finished third in the Oetztaler last season.

I finished the Marmotte for the fifth time, and improved to 7h19'46". Good for rank 151. My bruised ribs, which I suffered last week in the Maratona, hampered my breathing to really race and gave me some pain on the bad road surface of some parts of the descents. I was happy to beat my 30 hometown pals from Belgium, though:-)