Mont Cenis to Le Bourg D'Oisans - Day 4 (GBF13)

Stage 2 of 2.

Breakfast at the hotel packing up and taking off. It's so much easier with minimal gear! -- Looking forward to a long 50km gentle decent into Modane and further to recover a bit before hitting the next climbs. Ben already took the bikes out as I stepped out of the hotel -- and checked pressure. A beautiful morning, a very slight chill, staring elevation is 1500m today :) We did the major part of the climbing already and could take a little more time to today!



Riding out of Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis (1500m) on (D1006) towards Modane (1100m). Easy rolling on a gentle -1..-2% road alongside a river, passing Termignon, Sollieres-Sardieres and all sudden finding a road blockade:
 

Blasting work ahead on some mountain side. Even some one there not letting any one though for safety. So now that about our nice and easy descent -- backtracking about 6km to Sollieres-Sardieres and heading over to the other side of the river a little above the valley towards Aussois -- a small climb up on D83. But very pretty. While Py stopped briefly to take the picture on right above Ben kept going. -- Realize the "plain" D 83 road marker? So those are not TdF specific -- just those on famous TdF climbs are customized with additional information! -- In Aussois a little confused about a turn but figured there were no wrong options as the uphill variant ended in a ski area parking lot. Heading on to a fast fun and quick descent on D215 into Modane where Ben waited.
Shopping for second breakfast in a supermarket before heading on more fast gentle downhill on D1006 to Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis.



Filling up water before tacking the first longer climb up Col du Mollard on D80. Very scenic. Lunch/Coffee break in Albiez le Vieux.


Heading on using D926 on cyclist's dream roads via Saint Jean d'Arves tacking a good climb up to Croix de Fer.


Up up up to col de la Crois de Fer (D926). Starting with moderate 5..6%. This marker was the 2nd one or on second kilometer. Later it steepened up to 8..10%.



Here the opposite of Croix de Fer, one more beautiful valley:

Descending from Croix de Fer on D526, featuring a great fast road to rip some speed on D526 and a little counter climb changing into a different valley hitting a final super fast descent into Le Verney at Lac du Verney. Almost back, Ben though there was still time to hit one more climb up D44B, D211B to Huez.... and give the road up the Alpe a try downhill! The climb up felt a little long... but ended in a rewarding passage over to Huez and a fun fast decent on D211 into Bourg.



Instant recovery stop next to the hotel where we were going to check in soon, do some laundry and make plans for the next day -- stay tuned!

 

And most important -- great dinner at La Romanche!
Again -- one of the most amazing places for cycling. Seams the town is dominated by cyclists, mostly road bikes but also mountain bikes -- riders zipping around every where... 

Le Bourg D'Oisans to Mont Cenis - Day 3 (GBF13)

Stage 1 of 2 -- Le Bourg de Oisans to Mont Cenis.

Alarm 7am, breakfast planned for 7:30 -- but the little hotel was just about to set  up a simple buffet... coffee, hot milk, cereal, croissants, jam... -- French breakfast! Charged up and good to go :)

 

Rolling out of town, Ben putting in a great pace flying by a bunch of riders. Fun! We were going towards Lac du Chambon (D1091) again, slightly uphill and slowly increasing slope as we were approaching Col du Lautaret. Waiting for a light -- one way traffic for construction...

 

At the top of the mountain pass Col du Lautaret, entering the closed road up to Gallibier (D902).

    

Entering the close road. Some rumours some one went over it, curious... Well this is what we got:

 

Some snow removal activities with about 200m (elevation) to go to enter the tunnel from where it was clear again -- but no way to get there, needed some touring ski... or been stuck in 1..2m of heavy wet snow where even big machines had trouble. We got told not before 1 week or so. Snow is still pressing down/avalanches from the mountain side making a safe passage or even

cleaning the road impossible on the last stretch.

 

Meeting a few other riders photo time and descending back down to Lautaret, then a fun long fast descent continuing on (D1091) with a -3..-1% grade into town Briancon for lunch.

 

What a ramp right after lunch out of Briancon on (D994G)... then moderate uphill a nice Col del Echelle and a fast long decent into Susa -- flying again with 40..50 km/h sustained, making nearly 50km distance in not much over an hour -- just a little hill (D1T). Non stop flying into Susa on (SS335/SS24), a quick snack on road side -- preparing for a long final climb of the day up to Lac du Mont Cenis on (SS25, D1006), climbing and nibbling on the last Cliff bar and water... 

Here a few impressions:

And final descent into Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis. Checking in at the first hotel we found. Great dinner :) Almost to exhausted to sleep well.

"Alpe d' Huez", Le Bourg D'Oisans, RA, France - Day 2 (GBF13)

After a good 4 hours of driving from Bern to le Bourg D'Oisans, France parking at a big supermarket in Oisans, little lunch shopping and lunch time.

Then changing into the cycling kit and heading right up to visit the famous Alpe de Huez. This climb started right out of town with a decent 10..12% ramp,

but then levels into a moderate 6..8% climb. Fairly easy going from then, passing Huez then approaching the top of the Alpe. The top is not really spectacular in any means -- pretty much it ends in a big honestly not very pretty ski resort and big parking lots. Py went to the very end and around some ski lift base stations.

Obligatory attempt to find a good photo spot...

 

Then it's actually turning into a nice ride proceeding via Col de Sarenne -- passing a very pretty valley!

And a great descent down to Mizoen and Lac du Chambon on Route du Col de Sarenne. I can hardly describe those super fun descents with tight switch backs lined up one on one -- you have to go and ride and experience them your self! This was the 1st significant and little more demanding descent on his own bike with those EVNE wheels and break pads. Still a little unfamiliar with the behaviour, needs a good squeeze to get break performance. Little close call test on one faster approaching switch back breaking down form near 80 km/h... just worked -- whooho... wake up call!

All the way down checking breaks and rims -- pretty warm but not really hot to touch at this point any more.

Then picking a Hotel "Hotel des Alpes", checking, shower, little exploration of the cycling-awesome town and picking a restaurant for dinner. 

   

Back in our "chambre" sorting items and pre packing our packs for a two day ride with remote stay en route. Discussing options where to go and deciding on a direction going a little into Italy. Unfortunately the Gallibier pass is still closed, but we plan to give it a try and see what we really get -- always can return and proceed on an alternative route. Sounds like fun -- bed time now.

Let a great week proceed! So far weather was very cooperative and it's looking great! -- Come back to read about day 3 soon...