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LATE BASE · 12 WEEKS OUT

LA MARMOTTE GRANFONDO ALPES — 12 WEEKS OUT

Bridge phase. Volume still rules, but structure begins. Built around the 174km / 5,000m profile of the Marmotte in France.

174 km·5,000 m climbing·7-12 hours·July

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

BUILD THE ENGINE.

Twelve weeks out, you're still building the base — but specific structure is starting to appear. Tempo work enters the picture one day a week. Long rides get longer. This is where the event-specific fitness starts to take shape without compromising your aerobic foundation.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

TEMPO SANDWICH

2x20min at tempo (76-88% FTP) inside a 2-hour Z2 ride. Steady, controlled, not a time trial. This is your first taste of extended race-pace efforts.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 12 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Non-negotiable.

Tuesday

TEMPO SANDWICH (2H)

2x20min tempo inside steady Z2.

Wednesday

STRENGTH + 1H RECOVERY SPIN

Keep the gym work periodised.

Thursday

2H Z2 WITH 4X8MIN TEMPO

Progressive tempo work.

Friday

REST OR EASY 30MIN

Protect the weekend.

Saturday

4-5H LONG RIDE WITH EVENT-SPECIFIC TERRAIN

Mimic your target event's profile.

Sunday

2H Z2 RECOVERY RIDE

Active recovery, conversational pace.

DON'T DO THIS

Don't start threshold intervals yet. The build phase will come. If you jump intensity too early you'll peak 6 weeks before race day and arrive flat.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE MARMOTTE ACTUALLY DEMANDS

La Marmotte is the original European mass-participation Alpine event — 174km from Bourg d'Oisans over the Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier and finishing on Alpe d'Huez. 5,000m of climbing in one day, four giant cols, and a culture that treats it as the amateur Tour de France stage.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Four legendary cols: Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier, Alpe d'Huez
  • ✓Galibier summit at 2,642m — altitude bites the upper third
  • ✓Alpe d'Huez summit finish after 150km already in the legs
  • ✓July heat in the Maurienne valley regularly hits 35°C+
  • ✓Gold/silver/bronze finishing standards — riders chase the time bands

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Racing the Glandon in the opening cool air and arriving at the Galibier hollow
  • ✕Underfuelling because the climbs feel manageable in the first half
  • ✕Choosing 11-28 gearing and meeting Alpe d'Huez at 50rpm

PACING

Pace La Marmotte from the Alpe backwards. Glandon at 70-75% FTP, Télégraphe-Galibier as a paired sub-threshold effort, Alpe d'Huez ridden on a wattage ceiling regardless of heat or crowd. The valley between Galibier descent and the Alpe is the day's hidden test — tailwind, heat, fatigue. Eat through it, do not hammer.

FUELLING

8-10+ hours demands 90-110g carbs/hour minimum, and the gut has to be trained for it. Force-drink on a timer once the valley heat lands — Maurienne in July is brutal. Refill bottles at every feed; the climb to Alpe d'Huez is the worst place on earth to run dry.

KIT

34x32 minimum, 34x34 if you have it. Gilet and arm warmers stashed for the Galibier descent (genuinely cold even on 35°C days). Clear lenses for the descents. Sunscreen reapplied at every feed — Alpine UV plus an 8-hour day is a sunburn waiting to happen.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

The Not Done Yet coaching community runs the coached five-pillar system built around your actual event date. Personalised TrainingPeaks plan, weekly calls, expert masterclasses. 7-day free trial.

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$195/month · 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 12 WEEKS OUT

Is 12 weeks enough to train for the La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes?+

Yes, 12 weeks is a strong window. That's enough time for a full base phase, build, peak, and taper — the classical periodisation structure. 5,000m of climbing over 174km is built with sustained Z2 volume (base) + threshold work (build) in that order.

What's the hardest part of the La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes?+

Four legendary cols: Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier, Alpe d'Huez. racing the Glandon in the opening cool air and arriving at the Galibier hollow — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Pace La Marmotte from the Alpe backwards.

How many hours a week should I train at 12 weeks out from the La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes?+

Aim for 8-12 hours/week if you're targeting a strong finish. The long weekend ride is the anchor (3-4 hours at build intensities) plus 3-4 structured weekday sessions. Volume matters more than intensity at this phase.

Do I need a coach to train for the La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside the Not Done Yet coaching community the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes?+

34x32 minimum, 34x34 if you have it. Gilet and arm warmers stashed for the Galibier descent (genuinely cold even on 35°C days). Clear lenses for the descents. Sunscreen reapplied at every feed — Alpine UV plus an 8-hour day is a sunburn waiting to happen.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE MARMOTTE

Earlier phase ← 16 weeks out

BASE PHASE

Later phase → 8 weeks out

BUILD PHASE

Read the full Marmotteguide →