Alpe d' Huez two different ways

Took a trip to Bourg d' Oisans this weekend and was not disappointed.  It is a resort town, skiing in the winter and a bazillion cyclotourists in the summer who want to try their hand (or legs) on probably the most famous climb in the world.   According to Wil, there are at least 100 climbs in the Alps better than Huez, but, being a nerd and a tourist I just had to do it.    While I'm still a neophyte in the Alps, I have to agree with him that it isn't that great a climb - it's just super famous.   

Anyway, on to the pictures!

Day one was a big loop that was on Wil's website.  It starts up the Huez then veers off after 5 hairpins to go up the Col de Sarenne.  On the way, you do two side adventures and climb up and down Maronne and Auris.    47 miles and 8300' of climbing.   One of the hardest rides I've done.   The final climb is long and was tough for my chicken legs after tackling the two moderate climbs previously.  

I was thinking Wil had lost his marbles on this first one.   It ends in a small parking area and a bunch of sheep.

And then I turned around.  Wowsa!

On the way up there was a chairlift.  "SQEEEEE!"

In between Maronne and Auris there is this amazing cliff road.  This one is more bonkers than the one on Chaussy.  

Pictures don't do it justice.   It is a big, steep drop.

That's a two lane highway about 1500-2000' below.

Oisans Valley.   Gorgeous.  Don't scoff the IPhone 5 camera!

Next summit was a bigger ski station, Auris.   Lots of condos.

  That's the road you ride up to get here.  

 

OK, so it wasn't this bus stop, but I got naked in one on the climb to Huez.  Had to so I could get a base layer on - stupid knee warmers.  Next time I'm just bringing tights that go OVER the shorts to prevent snow-storm nudity.

 

WTF?   "Let's build a road on a known avalanche path!"   Love those French CE's.

Can anyone explain the flying Goat?

 

 

OK, on to day two.  Alpe d Huez the traditional way.

The forecast didn't look good the day prior.....

 

I stopped at the top to look at the airport and try to get pics of the crazy runway that dives off the hill.   Bad idea.   See those big white things rolling in?

 

Yup, snow.   Lots of it, and I was not dressed appropriately.   I had overdressed the previous couple rides so I packed light on this one.  Bad idea.  At one point there was snow built up on the front of my socks.   I wore white for the same reason the British Army used to wear red.....

 

I was shivering like crazy and had a hard time pushing the buttons on my phone to unlock it.   It's a miracle this picture happened.   The sun actually came out as I stopped and I warmed up for a second.  Thank you Lucho!

 

Oh shoot.  I was totally gonna hit Galibier once I recovered from hypothermia....

Obligitory sign picture.

And crappy lighting picture.

 

 

OK, so, overall I liked the Huez.    It's big, wide, great concrete, and has a cool ski resort at the top.   However, I agree that it is just "meh..." when compared to Galibier, Stelvio, Gavia, and even the Sarenne as far as getting above the treeline and seeing some amazing scenery.   You are in the trees a lot on Huez and the climb itself isn't all that interesting.     But, and this is a big but (heh heh), when you look at the history of all the champions that are posted on every hairpin, and see paint on the road, and pass Dutch Corner, you can't help but squee a little. 

 

Another great weekend in cycling heaven.   I still suck at climbing but I think I may be getting a little better.   Next week the plan is Ventoux as the Alps are supposed to be rainy and snowy.

 

Thanks for reading!   Ride fast, ride safe!

Andy

 

Il Lombardia, Stelvio, and Gavia Oct 6-9, 2017

Italy!

 

I drove down to the town of Bergamo to watch Il Lombardia and to deliver one of the biggest illegal feeds of my career. 

 

Back in September, prior to stage 19 at La Vuelta, I was hanging out by the Trek bus to get a couple autographs (well, mainly to get Alberto Contador's) and Pete Stetina walked out.  I said something stupid like "Have a fun ride Pete!" and he came over to talk to me.   Apparently there are not many US fans that go to random stages of Euro races (other than the Tour) so he was pretty excited to meet a fan from the US, and as it turns out, a fellow west coaster.  He signed my hat and gave me a couple race numbers from the day prior.  Super nice guy and a very talented climber who was instrumental in getting Alberto the results he got in La Vuelta this year.  

 

He probably thought that was it -  but of course it wasn't.   I started stalking and planning a super-illegal-feed.  I sent him a thank you note on social media and we started talking beer.  I was so thankful for the souvenirs that I offered to bring some beer down to him at his next race.  One thing Germany has in abundance is great beer.    One thing the Trek Team bus does not have is great beer.   So, I set a plan in motion.  

 

I loaded up my hoopty with two cases of beer and headed south the day before the race.  After a cozy night on the new air mattress in the back of the hoopty, I made it to the start area of the race.   If you drive slow, have bikes on your roof, get there early, and have a rider list on the dash, you can drive the wrong way down a pedestrian-only street and park within 50 meters of the start line.   Of course the Illegal Feed Zone parks illegally!  Once the team bus arrived, I delivered the first case of beer.   While I was going back to the car for case #2, the team all signed an old jersey for me!  Gregory Rast then gave me a vest and they had a new hat for me! (since Pete and Alberto ruined mine at La Vuelta)    

I was pretty stunned.   I was squee-ing like a little kid and completely lost my cool - otherwise I would have got some pictures of the sweet 2 case hand-up into the team bus.   But I have the memory.   Thanks so much to Team Trek-Segafredo.   You guys are awesome and I hope you enjoyed the beer! 

 

 

Next up was riding the climb to Sormano and to try the Muro di Sormano.   F that.   It is steep.  Crazy steep.  Way too steep for my fat ass.  After having to hop off the bike twice I said forget it and road back to the car and ate some lunch.   Sometimes it pays to not be racing.

 

I set up the IFZ in Sormano and then sat down to enjoy a beautiful Italian afternoon.  After watching the race in Sormano and providing some Illegal feeds (Jesus Hernandez took a coke and a looooong push - brother was way off the back behind the ambulance and everything else) I got back in the car and rode over to the Maradona del Ghisallo climb.   Just like climbs back home, this one has a statue and a chapel dedicated to the patron saint of cycling.   Oh, and it looks out over Lake Como.   No big deal. 

Top of the Ghisallo.

 

After that amazeballs day, I drove to Bormio to spend the night and get ready for two big days of riding.   But, on the way, I had a pleasant surprise when the GPS (I just do whatever it tells me to over here) said "Take the next left and proceed onto the ferry."    Needless to say that drove me to a pretty good momentary state of panic and confusion but I figured it out and drove the hoopty onto the ferry for a gorgeous ride across Lake Como that probably saved me hours of driving time.  

 

 

Next day was a BIG one.  Passo del Stelvio.  

It was snowing when I got to the top of the pass.  People were walking around with skis on their shoulders.  My gameplan was to park at the top, ride down, drop some snacks off on the way down, then ride back up the pass.   Plan was good, execution was difficult.  It was really, really cold at the top.  Like near freezing and snowing.   

That is snow under my front tire.

The famous hairpins of the Stelvio.   I didn't get back to these for 2 1/2 hours. 

I bought a new hat and arm-warmers at the souvenir shop at the top.   Pretty sure I got a great deal. 

This corner was painted in with some famous Italian cyclists.   I'd have mixed emotions if my name was there.  Pantani died in a drug OD and Scarponi was killed by a car this year on a training ride.  Saying a prayer at the Madonna del Ghisallo for Nibali and Aru. 

OK.  So this is what I saw after two hours of climbing back up.  The pass is the low point in the ridge way, way, way up there.   The number 24 is the is the hairpin number, counted from the top.  Only 23 to go!

Here is the sign at the top, along with the gift shops and Europe's highest Sausage.  I was as bonked as I've ever been.   This ride crushed me.  Especially as the snacks I stashed halfway down somehow disappeared - so I was super hungry and depleted of energy.  I could smell the sausage stand from a couple KM away.

One of my favorite stories from Richard Scarry is the story of Ernst Goat.   He is a swiss goat that climbs mountains and every day he has to climb a mountain to rescue Heidi Goat's cow that can go up the mountains but not down.  My goal is to meet an Ernst and a Heidi.   50% done.

 

 

 

OK, Day 2.  The Gavia

I didn't want to take pictures on the way up because I wanted to do at least one big climb without stopping.  But I had to get this one.  This is a road that goes underneath a chairlift.  Awesome.   I was planning on getting more pictures but I was freezing on the way down and just wanted to get down to the warmer air.   

So, a bit of history.   Andy Hampsten took the Pink Jersey of the Giro on this climb (except he came up the opposite side that I did) in an iconic snowstorm stage of the Giro.    I climbed it on a gorgeous fall day.   I was bundled up but ditched the jacket for the pic.  

 This pass sign is my favorite so far.  There is a bench built into it!   The Gavia from Bormio is (so far) my favorite climb.   It has a lot of interesting features, chairlifts, a lake, and has a varied gradient so you can catch your breath every once in a while.   And the top flattens out, so you can feel like you are flying on a high alpine pass. 

 

Overall, it was another amazing trip for this bike nerd.  These passes are massive and it is even more impressive to watch the pros go up them now that I've done a few.   Turns out I'm a on the Statute system as my death zone is above 8,000 feet, not 8,000 meters.   

 

I re-learned that people are people and even dudes at the top of their profession can be super down to earth and personable.   Of course, showing up with two cases of beer usually helps break the ice...

 

Thanks for reading!   Next trip will be Bourg d' Oisans and L Alpe D Huez (forecast for snow. GRR)

Illegal Feed Zone at La Vuelta 2017 stage 19 and 20. Sept 8-9, 2017

Did the Illegal Feed Zone act at La Vuelta.   I had a cooler and some drinks - that was it, no signs, chairs, bbq, Mike Martin, etc.    Still, I was pleasantly surprised that the Worldtour pros would participate.   Fed a Sky Guy both days, guess they don't allow Cokes in the marginal gain game.

 

 

Stage 19

Breakaway leaders weren't interested, but the guys in no man's land and the main peloton ran me out of Cokes!  I'm in the blue shirt.

 

 

My European Hoopty! (silver Audi on the right)  W the Orca on top.   Looks better on TV than I do.  I'm set up just down the hill around the corner.

Stage 20.

 

Old school yellow NF jacket.  It was horrid weather about 45 minutes prior to the riders getting there.    Everyone is bundled up.    I didn't even try to feed Contador, he had 4 Guardia Civil running next to him, but I handed out 5 Cokes to other riders.   This stage was amazing.    The Angliru crushed me when I tried to ride it.  Between my fatness, the crowds, and the slickness of the roads, I ended up turning around about 1/3 of the way up.

 

Maurienne Valley Sept 23-24, 2017 Amazing!

Col de Telegraphe, Galibier, and Chaussy with the lacets de Montvernier

This weekend I travelled to the Maurienne valley in France.   If you like big climbs, this place is a Mecca.   Will has much better posts than I could ever create so if you are curious about the valley visit his blog about it here. 

On Saturday I climbed the Col de Telegraphe and Col de Galibier.    Two monsters in their own right and my fat ass did them back to back.   By the top at over 8500' I was nauseous, gaseous, exhausted and had a headache.   I'm pretty out of shape.   On to the pictures!

 

Just your standard highway rest stop....

All the signage was bike specific.   Even the highway exits tell you which cols are at that exit.   This sign was 10K into the climb.  I've never been more intimidated.

Small signs on the Cols telling distance to go and avg grade for next km.

Top of Telegraphe

View at top of Telegraphe

Pretty much going there....

In the pain cave but happy to be done.   I came from the left side.

Savoire side (the side I came up)

Hautes Alps side (maybe next time)

The road I came up. 

I'm alive!

 

 

 

Sunday was the Col de Chaussy with the lacets de Montvernier.     Imagine two French Civil Engineers in a bar, a few glasses of wine, and someone boasts that they can build a road up a cliff.   I think that is what happened.   Better pics on Will's blog here. 

 

This is just below the start of the climb.  You can make out some of the retaining walls for the hairpin turns.   It was fun to ride as the view of the valley didn't change, other than the angle!

Another picture from the bottom.

About 4K to go on the Col de Chaussy.   The road was blasted into the cliff as the cliff was too steep to build a road on!   The right side is about a 1000' drop!

I had trouble getting a good picture cause the sun was just behind the roof and would wash out my camera but you get the idea.  

To the right of this sign is the 1000' drop.

Here is the drop.  It was hard to photograph.  I didn't want to drop my IPhone or myself. 

Much happier today.   I took it easy as I had trouble getting out of bed and wasn't sure how my legs would do on day 2.   Ran out of time before running out of Cols.

Nice little restaurant/bar at the top of Chaussy.

Stopped at the big cliff on the way back down.  My Orca in it's natural element. 

Prolly a poster for the garage!

Don't know why I put my hand on my hip.  It looks stupid. 

Went a different way down.  This is the town of La Chatel.   Of course their playground has a view of the Haute Alps, an ancient fort, and a gorgeous little church.   I bet there is never any crying at this playground!

The fort from the South. 

St. Jean de Maurienne in the Maurienne Valley.   Stunning beauty.  

A last shot of the lacets de Montvernier.    You can see the road/switchbacks a little better here.

 

It was an amazing weekend.  If you only have a few days and want to conquer as many big Cols as you can, there are worse places to go.  

 

Good night!