Will it be neutralised like the Glandon or?
Less cars the better but certainly an extra challenge now😁. Wording suggests neutral to mollard only on the website, at least thats my interpretation but would be good to know for definite.
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According to the website:
"
After a flat 10 kilometres, the first real obstacle can be seen in the distance: Col de la Croix de Fer (2 067 m). A long but unconsistent climb of 20 kilometres with steep passages of up to 10%. After reaching the top, the chrono is frozen for the descent due to safety regulations. This gives time to recuperate and focus on the technical and steep descent.
Once below, this is le Col du Mollard that rises in front of you as the second difficulty of the day, be carrefull the downhill is winding."
So only the first part till Col du Mollard is neutral.
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Yeah, seems a bit dangerous if it is truly only the descent to Mollard, rather the then the downhill of the Mollard it self which is pretty narrow and very winding.
Filled in the contact form to get confirmation on the neutral zones. Hope they will reply soon 
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50 hairpin descent! Might need to work in some wrist/forearm exercises for braking…
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50 hairpins, jeeze. Hoping my wheels don’t melt 
Ps i know about the rear light being mandatory, but is the front too?
On their FAQ
"Good lighting (front and back kit) is MANDAROTY and wearing a visibility vest is essential.
Participants will be checked at the start and / or on the ride.
In the absence of a lighting kit, exclusion will be immediate and without any negotiation.
The road and the police services can also ban and ticket participants. "
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I’d wager no one will be wearing the visibility vests during the fondo (that is such a stupid rule the french introduced last year… I wonder how that impaxts all those fondos, if the police really enforces it). I would probably at least put some light small lights on the bike so that there are no issues but I’m not sure how serious they really take that at the marmotte. n Happy to have a bit more time until my big event comes this year to train a bit more.
I can only echoe the Heat thing, even if it is “only” like 25C if you are riding exposed in the sun it can get really hot and with the slow speeds you get no cooling and the long steady state efforts can really push your temps up and cook you. Experienced that 2 Weeks ago on my first proper long climb of the year it was 25-27c but the Garmin read 35+ and I really got hot after 40 min…
I wish everyone good luck and to have fun, I will probably try to make it for next year and maybe also du the Alp TT before, if I can get away for that long or if I manage to bring my familiy with me.
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I wouldn’t guarantee they still did it but when I did it back in 2013 their starting pack had next to useless LEDs it was also before Frances Hi Viz regs, that’ll be interesting 
I did the Trois Ballons gram fondo a few weeks ago and there was no mention of Hi-Viz in the rules there afaik and also no one was wearing any. So, at least there, there was no enforcement of that rule. Also i had no lights there, but there were also no tunnels on the route there. I will run lights during the Marmotte (Descent of the Galibier at least).
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Thanks for the info re lights all, i should have checked the website but totally didn’t think to lol.
Got a good rear light, but i hate riding with a light stuck to my bars nor do i fancy buying a new garmin mount to run it under. Picked up one of those frog ones to mount to the fork. Sure it’ll be fine, better than nothing and it ticks the front light catagory. Whether it meets the ‘good lighting’ part is questionable lol
Everyone ready for Sunday?
I just got my dossard e-ticket by email in the email it highlights 3 neutralised sections:
Decent off CdF
Decent of Mollard
Crossing of Grave
Now frankly feeling a little nervous and very excited which is very unlike me!
Also got the email and getting very excited now.
One question mark is the apparent requirement of a reflective vest. For sure I have lighting, but a vest would be a new purchase. And it seems like a strange thing to wear as a road cyclist when combatting heat, trying to stay light, etc. Many cycling jerseys are anyway very colorful.
How are others interpreting this?
Asked my friend who’s done it a number of times and he said “I have never known them to be fussy about this”…
I’ll simply show the reflective tags on my kit…pretty sure it’s hard to enforce as it’s not require by law
I highly doubt they’ll take anyone out for not wearing a full on reflective jersey, which seems a very strange request for a cyclo. The mail says: “as a reflective piece of clothing.”. So i’ll just point to the 2cm reflective strip on my shoes.
Much like the medical certificate i feel like it’s something they have to at least mention to cover their own ass and/or comply to local rules.
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Any chance someone could screenshot the email? (Taking out any sensitive info ofc)
Not sure if i’m going to get it having booked through a tour operator - thanks
Thanks very much!
EDIT; I agree, I also read the reflective requirement as a clothing item that has something reflective on, to which my bibs have a little tag eitherside that’s reflective
Anyone know how the starting waves are allocated? I put 7-7:30 on my target time but the e-mail suggests that the race numbers are allocated automatically when you collect your number.
Not sure if the numbers and in turn waves are allocated on a first come first served basis?