West Alps Bike Tour July 2012
Went on a guided bike tour in late June/ early July with friends and team-mates from the 20/20 Fuel bike team. 18 of us on the trip. Hank had to bail at the last minute. He was missed.Great trip. Several HC climbs, as well as many smaller climbs. Keep in mind this is the French Alps, so a smaller climb is anything less than 2000 vertical feet. Really good to see all of my old friends from Seattle. Look forward to doing it again.
7 Days of riding, around 450 miles for me. 46,000 Vertical feet gained over the week. Some others got more, as they did longer loops each day. There were a few days I was wiped out and got a shuttle for the last hour of riding.
Stage 1 Morzine -> Albertville
84.4 miles5800 vertical feet
Getting ready to ride
Had a hurried morning. Breakfast started at 7:30, riding by 9:00. I
woke up at 8:40. Scrambled to get dressed before they packed up the
food. Grabbed a few slices of toast and a handful of apricots, then
got dressed and threw the bags into the van. Had enough time for a
group photo before we took off.
The ride started with a nice decent with light traffic, then flat
rollers for a bit until the first food stop. Ate up and rode with
Catrina for a bit before hitting the gas to try to catch the group
ahead. Caught Kevin and Dave, then rode ahead for a bit. Waited at
the top of the col de fleuris and we rode down as a group, and through
another set of rollers. The road got narrower and descended on a
platform carved out of the side of the gorge.
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| Kevin and Dave at the bottom of the gorge |
Hit food stop 2, then along a flat ride next to a lake, onto a bike
path, through the village, then up a 1500 foot climb up to the hotel.
Dragged myself up the climb, and caught Chuck and Tom on the flats at
the top. Nice pool, perfect for a cool off.
Stage 2 Col De la Madeleine and Col du Glandon
54.5 miles10500 vertical feet
Killer day! Wiped out! Started with 12 flat miles out of
albertville. Horst led out our group of 5, and rode a solid pace to
the start of the climb. Pretty easy work to sit on his wheel and get
pulled along, but he didn't seem to mind. We rode together for a bit
at the start of the climb, but I was feeling pretty strong, and picked
up the pace and rode off the front for a while. I would later come to
regret this. Steven caught on for a while, and we talked until he
dropped back. Most of the climbing was in the 34-27, but every once
in a while you could stand and drop down a gear or two for a change of
pace. Long steady climb, with a short decent thrown in the middle of
the climb. Horst caught up, and we talked a bit before he took off.
After about 2 hours in the saddle, and 4500 feet of climbing, hit the
food stop at the top of the col de la madeline, and chowed down.
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| Heading up the Madeleine |
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| And looking down |
Screaming decent down the valley, where it warmed up quite a bit.
Passed a few of my group who were on the side of the road with a wheel
issue, but they waved us on. At the bottom of the decent, we quickly
started climbing the Col de Glandon. I was feeling good early in the
climb, riding at a decent pace, even though I was a bit tired. With
10km to go, started to drag a bit, and regretting not stopping for a
coke in town, where I had passed a big group of riders doing the
same. Kept rolling uphill slower and slower. Horst caught up and
checked in. He said to be sure to save something in the tank for the
last 2k, as that was the hardest part.
Taken somewhere between Madeliene and Glandon. Still a long way to go...
As if there was anything left in the tank at that point!
With 3.5k to go, the van passed me. They had picked up Matthew, who
had gotten sick on the climb, and was unable to continue. Apparently
they rode by and said "He's good, he's in the zone." Not sure which
zone that was, maybe the twilight zone.
With 2k to go, it got steeper, up to 12%, as Horst had warned. This
is where the wheels fell off for me. Had to stop to catch my breath,
and could not find the energy to keep going. Didn't feel like a
typical bonk, just totally hit the wall and was really struggling.
Could only manage 2-300 meters of riding before stopping to rest or
push the bike a few feet before hopping back on. At some point I
threw the bike over my shoulder and tried to do a cyclocross run up
cutting out the switchbacks, but that effort nearly killed me. Dave
rode past, paperboying across the road. Tried that but I was really
dead. Finally I could see the top of the col ahead, and the van, and
managed to get back on the bike and pedal the last bit to the food
stop. Ate a bit, then asked for a ride back to the hotel, I was
cooked. Steven was looking for a ride back as well, but unfortunately
the van was full! He had to ride down, then back up 1100 meters up
the Alpe de Huez. He was feeling pretty good, though. Several others
also made the last climb, rather than getting a ride. Chapeau!
At dinner, we discussed and decided to take a rest day early, as the
forecast was calling for some rain, and most of us were really worked
after the hard day of riding. The next day we headed to Grenoble for
a day of shopping and hanging around off the bike.
Stage 3
Alpe de Huez -> Alpe de Huez.
69 miles
8500 vertical feet
View from the hotel balcony in the morning.
Original plan for the day was to ride the Marmotte route, a loop of
111 miles with 16k feet of climbing. This was shortened due to popular
demand. We cut this short by getting shuttle down the Alpe de Huez,
and up the col de la Croix de Fer. Most normal folks do the Marmotte as a one day ride, not the day after a metric centrury w/ 10k of climbing!
Got out at the top of the col, had a
fun fast 4500 foot decent, then rode across the valley. It was super
hot down low, high 80s-low 90s? I ride pretty poorly in hot weather,
but had taken a third bottle in my jersey to make it easier. I was
riding alone for a bit, passed a couple of german riders who I tried
to help out with directions in the bit of "Deutchlich" I could
remember from college. They were slightly more lost than I was.
Quickly rode up to the rest of the group, who were equally confused
with the map. Rode down some gravel paths, portaged bikes over two
fences and up a staircase, then got some food/drinks at a gas station
before finding the route and starting the base of the climb. Running into that gas station was a lifesaver. Rode with Bill for a while, then got ahead. About 1/2 way up, the heat was
really catching up to me, and I had to stop to get it together. Bill
rode up and threatened to take my photo, but I waved him off :) Got
back on the bike and kept pumping up.
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| Heading up col de Telegraphe |
Reached the top of the
Telegraphe and the food stop. At this point, I was the last one on
the road, but quite a few were still eating and getting ready to
leave. Steven had wiped out on a gravel patch, and had a bit of road
rash, but was still OK to ride.
After the food, a short decent then the climb up to the Galbier
started. Steady grade, mostly 6-8%.
Saw Dave up close to the top,
and rode the last several miles with him, which was really great.
This high up, it had cooled down quite a bit, and we were riding
through snow banks on the side of the road and through snowmelt
puddles. Stopped to take pictures of each other on the last few
miles. At the top, it was a bit cold and windy.
Ate quickly, put on
all of the clothes I had stashed in the van, and started the 4500 foot
decent. Lots of tight switchbacks at the start, but then it opened up
further down.
Rode through La Grave, which is a hot spot for extreme
skiing in the winter but was like most other alpine ski villages in
summer from what I could see. Shot through a few dark tunnels, then
arrived at the van which had stopped to pick us up and drive us back
to the hotel. Had a great dinner, then went out with Sam, Dave, Dave,
John, and Matthew to try to find an open bar in a ski town which had
shut down for summer. Found a place and shared a great bottle of wine with excellent company. Good times.
Stage 4
52 miles
4100 vertical feet
Started the day with a decent down the 23 switchbacks of the Alpe de
Huez. Fun decent. Could not really open it up, as there was a turn
every 500 or so meters. Took turns leapfrogging each other and
getting photos. This was immediately followed with a 500 meter climb
at a moderate grade. Another warm day, so I kept the pace pretty
easy. Rode on to the town of La Mure ( the wench) and met the group
who had stopped for cafe and cokes. Really started to heat up as it
was now midday, and I was having a difficult time keeping on the
paceline due to the heat as we rolled through some farily flat terrain. Struggled to keep even a low tempo pace, but hung on as long as
I could.
Eventually we dropped down onto a shaded portion of the
road, and some gravel roads, which was a welcome relief from the sun
and the heat. Had we stayed in the shade, I would have happily kept
going. Arrived at the van, on an outlook back in the sun. I was
sweating like crazy just standing around, and opted to finish the ride
in the van as I was really dragging. Was not sure I was going to make
the 400 meter climb back to the hotel at 90+ degrees. Waited for all
the riders to arrive, and continue on their way. Helped Stefan pack the food and equipment into the van, got in and we followed them up
the road with cool A/C :) Rode by Kevin and Dave and checked in, and handed a water
bottle off to Kevin. In pro style, he took it and drained it down his
back. Only way to be more pro would be to hang on the mirror for a
few hundred feet up the climb :)
Picked up Scott, who had wiped out on some loose gravel, and was a bit
shaken. He was OK, just not very confident, and didn't want to keep
going. Got to the hotel early, rested, then jumped into the pool.
Some wise soul got a basket full of beers from the bar, and joined us at the pool
and handed them out. Perfect! Great dinner, lots of pasta, and
watched the soccer match before crashing out. First 8 hour sleep of
the trip!
Stage 5
68 miles
6900 vertical feet
5:20 riding time
500 meter climb right out of the gate. That was a good leg warmer!
Moderate grade, and I was starting to get used to the heat at this
point. Nice 800 meter decent, with good roads.
Then a 600 meter
climb up to the food stop. This was up to the col de Grimone. Saw a
sign on the side of the road advertising the "Pain de Grimone". Non,
merci, I have quite enough pain at this stage. Climb was not as
difficult as others, but not a piece of cake, either.
Short decent with lots of long sweeping curves. I missed a turn, and had to turn around and ride a few
extra miles back up the hill. I think most of the group passed by me
at this point Oops. short climb, gradual decent to
the valley floor. The rest of the ride had rollers, followed by a 500
meter climb to the hotel. I had planned to do the whole route, but a
group of us stopped before the last climb for a coke. After that, I
realized I was hitting diminishing returns after 5+ hours in the
saddle, and waited for the van to pick a few of us up to return to the
hotel.
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| A few panoramic shots of the valley. Lots of wheat and lavender fields |
Stage 6
89 miles
6500 vertical feet
6:00 riding time
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| View from the start of the ride, just below the hotel |
started with along gradual decent that lost 800 meters in 30 miles.
Nice road with very light traffic. Fairly steep climb up, which
thankfully was only 500 meters or so.
Food stop, then another long
gradual decent. Rode down with Chuck, the alone until Bill caught up
to me, and we took turns pulling each other at a brisk pace across the
flats.
We had planned on stopping at a cafe in Die, and possibly
ending the ride there, but I was feeling strong and so we took a short
detour up a hill through the town of Luzerand. Stopped a the cafe
where the other guys were, grabbed a coke and took it on the road with
me. I was afraid if I sat down, I would not get back up, and I knew
there was a bit more suffering to be had on the day. Started the
climb up the col de roussett, 800 meters while sipping coke. around a
6% grade, but I was pretty tired with over 400 miles in my legs in the
last week. Passed Dave 2/3 of the way up, only to have him blow by me
as if I was standing still closer to the end.
Near the top of the col du Rousset en VercorsWe all waited at the
top of the col, and rode through a dark tunnel together.
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| Matthew in the tunnel |
Just enough light enough to see through to the end
Down a gradual decent. At the bottom, I slowly watched the others ride off into the
distance as we started the short climb back to the hotel. There was a
natural spring fed pool at the hotel, which was quite refreshing.
Amazing dinner, with a cheese course I will not soon forget.
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| NOM NOM |
Stage 7
37 miles
3800 vertical feet
3:00 riding time.
Many of us were quite tired at this point, so about half of the group
opted to skip the easiest planned route ( 73 miles, 9500 vf) in favor
of a shorter loop which would bring us back early, rather than just
before dinner.
Rode out had a 600 meter climb up to Herbouilly.
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| looking down from the col |
We all took it quite
easy, and expecially so on the decent, which had loose pea gravel all
over the road. Then the road took us through the Gorges de la Borne.
Spectacular scenery, amazing rock formations.
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| Bill riding down the gorge |
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| Steven and Chuck following |
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| Bill again |
Stopped in a small
village after we left the gorge for coffee and cokes, then made our
way back into town. Met Dave, Tom and Steven and had some crepes with
ham, cheese, and egg. AWESOME!! First eggs I had had all week. Got
back to the hotel, opened a few bottles of wine and broke down the
bikes for the return. The guys who had done the full route returned
around 5pm, and reported it was quite spectacular. It would have been
great to finish on that but I was so tired I would have rolled in a
few hours behind on death's door.
Transition.
next day, got in the vans to head back to Geneva. Checked into the
hotel, found a resteraunt with some killer pizza, then explored the
old part of the city in the rain. Found a bar to get out of the wet,
and watched a bit of the tour before heading back to the hotel to rest
before dinner. I got a bit hungry, and god help me, stopped at a
mcdonalds for a quick bite to eat to get back in time for the sprint
finish.
The group went out for some great indian food for the last meal
together before heading to the airport in the early AM for flights
back.
Awesome read. It was the trip of a lifetime. Let's do it again in 2014 !
ReplyDeleteDavo