Classics Circuit Junior ~ 10km 4 Ints
Introduction
The Classics Circuits are,
along with the Climbageddon Routes, the signature road
sessions of the flamme
rouge programmes. Each one
builds on the intensity and volume of the last.
As an add-in, to a week-end endurance ride, they are a perfect pre-season, race simulation, tester. Once the season is under way, just use the "circuit" as a mid-week, high intensity, low volume, race pace, top up.
We are blessed by having "everything" within five miles of our door. I'm sure wherever you are in the world, if you look hard enough, you should be able to recreate a similar concept in your own "playground" of choice.
Follow The Rules...
You are totally responsible for your own actions. Ensure your
bike is in tip-top condition, keep your head up at all times, have
regard for other road users and never go faster than the speed in
which you can clearly see to stop in. Ride safe, give it a
hundred percent, and have fun.
Course Description
The
Junior Circuit takes place entirely in the Parish of St Martin
and is a cut down version of our shortest Classics Circuit.
It's ideal as a pre-event leg stretcher, to test yourself and the
bike! It's 10 km's long and can
be done and dusted in less than an hour (if you live in town), including
warm up and cool down.
To start you need to get yourself to St Martin's Arsenal, which is near the Durrell Wildlife Trust. Whichever way you approach it, turn off the main road and head down the road behind the Arsenal, to La Ville Bree. Go through the S-bend at the end and turn right at Eye-can on to Rue de Huquet. You're now heading for your first interval.
You have 50 metres, down the slope, to get up to full speed. Hit the dip full-on and give it everything for the 100 metre St Martin's Sprint from the bottom of the dip to the two big trees at the crest.
Carry on, gently to ensure recovery, to the end of the road and take a left to St Martin's Public Hall. As you hit the church junction, turn right and head for Maufant and the second interval.
Pick up your speed as you drop down towards La Preferance, and, again, as you hit the dip, accelerate out as though it was a Champs Elysee lead out. Keep going all the way to the shop on the corner. This 300 metre Maufant Push will fill the legs with acid, coming so quickly after your first big sprint.
Carry on to the Midland Store and take a left to head for Hougue Bie (below) and Queens Valley Reservoir.
The next challenge is the climb from Queens Valley; drop down St Saviour's Hospital Hill and from the bottom of the valley gates, attack Ransom's Climb all the way to the finish, 30 metres from the Give Way sign at the top of the hill. There's a tiny lane on the left which marks the finish.
Take a right at the yellow line and head towards Gorey, be very careful on the descent. There are many hidden entrances, blind corners and car parking induced pinch points. Climb to the left of Gorey Castle, past Geoffroy's Leap and in to Anneport. Gently, climb out of Moonraker's as you'll be taking the first left turn to attack Archirondel 2.
Tackle this "climb of two halves" with circumspect at the bottom. There is a steep section until the turn, it then flattens slightly but resists all attempts to overcome it, continuing to climb until around the next corner.
Archirondel 2, finishes at the crest, where the side road appears from the right. This is your target for today. Once completed, continue to 300 metres to the yellow line, as quickly as dignity will allow. Where the circuit finishes
That's it, short and sweet. Job done, go home, rest, recover and prepare for your target event.
There are four significant EFR ~ Intervals on this course...
▼
Segment 1
sprints out of the St Martin's dip ~ 10 secs
▼
Segment 2
surges from
La Preferance to Maufaunt ~ 30 secs
▼
Segment 3
speed
climbs Queens Valley to Ransom's Corner ~ 1 min
▼
Segment
4 runs to the crest of Archirondel
~ 2 min
Who's it for?
This course isn't for the faint hearted. If you
have an above average fitness it can be used to build strength,
stamina and speed. If you're a racer, it combines all the
elements of a race in to one short, sharp, training session.
If you're stuck for time, there's little better to maximise your
most precious resource.
If you're not in the island, obviously you can get the drift of what we are trying to achieve. You just need to find a course near you that allows you to replicate the intervals in the order shown above. Generally, shortest first, longest last.
What Next?
If you're looking for something a little more
challenging, we have the
Classics Elite
Circuit to test your mettle.
