The Fitzhugh was given the opportunity to race up the Marmot Basin hill, Sept. 5, as part of the Tour of Alberta's media challenge, but as our staff was busy covering the tour, it was impossible to send one us huffing and puffing up the hill. Instead, we searched high and low for a Jasperite to take our place and eventually, at the 11th hour, landed on 15-year-old Chase Hammell.
The Marmot Basin Hill Climb Challenge was an exceptional event in the heart of the Rockies!
The mass start made me feel like I was about to race with the pros. The markers counting down the kilometres, and the signs showing the gradient of the climb were helpful, and a reminder of what I was accomplishing.
Although the starting peleton quickly split into smaller groups of three or four, it was an awesome experience to ride up to Marmot as part of a group of passionate cyclists. The climb itself wasn’t that bad, but my legs were still burning from the ride up to Miette the day before to see Stage 3 of the race. The second corner and the last corner of the climb were by far the most difficult, with grades kicking up to 20 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively. The fans in the red devil costume and red King of the Mountain body paint helped ease the pain as they ran along beside us screaming words of encouragement. Again I felt like I was climbing with the pros—like I was pedalling up the Alpe d’Huez in the Tour de France!
As the announcers commentated our race, I felt like I was fighting for the yellow jersey.
The scenery of the race was beautiful! I really got to appreciate the ruggedness of the majestic Canadian Rockies—a ruggedness I hadn’t really recognized when I had driven up to Marmot Basin in the past. A couple hundred metres after the Tonquin parking lot there is a beautiful clearing where all you see is the treetops and mountains. It is really quite remarkable!
As I crossed the finish line, I noticed a guy that I work with at United Cycle waving me through and cheering me on. It was interesting to see people from all over the world coming to support cycling. Sitting up on the balcony of the chalet overlooking the mountains was a great way to recover from the climb. I enjoyed the live music for a while before intently watching the pro riders speed around our national park on the Jumbotron.
As we waited for the riders to arrive, there was a consistent stream of spectators riding up to the summit finish. Most notably, there was a father riding his mountain bike while pulling two small children in a buggy behind him. He received almost as much applause as the pros for his dedication to his children and the sport.
Minutes later the pros made the right hand turn onto Marmot Road and the attacks began. They were now on the climb that I had completed just a couple of hours before.
First, Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal made his way across to the original break, but that move lasted for just under two kilometres. Seconds later the Katusha rider attacked and Hesjedal once again followed. Unfortunately, that break failed as well.
Then the Trek Factory Racing team turned up the pressure, trying to drop Hesjedal, but it didn’t work. Until there was only one kilometre to go, the riders battling for general classification stayed together. First Adam Yates broke away, but both Bauke Mollema and Tom-Jelte Slagter followed. At that point Hesjedal could no longer follow and his hopes for general classification were over.
But, there was still some glory to be had by his teammate from Cannondale-Garmin. With 150 metres remaining, Slagter rode off everyone’s wheel to win back-to-back mountaintop finishes in our national park.
The Marmot Basin Hill Climb Challenge was an incredible experience and the Tour of Alberta has undoubtedly helped promote the sport of cycling, not only in our breathtaking national park, but across Alberta, and even the world.
Chase Hammell
Special to the Fitzhugh
