Translation of beginning: ” A battle of giants is taking place at the front of the peleton as the riders approach the most difficult climb of the race. Attention! Look! What is that? A child in the middle of the peleton! Incredible!, etc”

Petit puce = “little thumb” and is a term of affection towards little kids.

I believe it is a test idea to a possible TV commercial. Thoughts?

Post from: Cycling Challenge

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Le Semnoz (the top is sometimes called Cret de Chatillon) is the huge massif on the west side of Lake Annecy. The majority of the ride is through beautiful protected woodlands. The top is a small ski station.

The Climb: 18.3 kms (11.4 miles); Ascent: 1,210 metres (3,970 feet)

It’s a magnificent and tough climb - and frankly today I suffered near the top - I am not yet fit or light enough for the July Tour d’Enfer. But at least the injury seems almost OK.

Up top we had a beer and frites - with Mayonaise of course as Eric - my partner today - is from Belgium.

For the return we took the super scenic south side down to Col de Leschaux. Then skipped the primary way back to Annecy - instead taking the quieter and longer way via the D10 (then D10b) via St Eustache. It’s really a fantastic relaxed descent with great hairpins up high and ever improving views of the Lake down low.

    

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Col de Pierre Carrée is a big climb and easily the highest pass in my vicinity that is currently clear of snow.

21.4 kilometres (~13 miles) and 1350 metres (~4500 feet) of climb.

It starts just a few kms from the Col de la Colombière - but unlike it’s more famous (but easier and lower) neighbour Pierre Carrée is open all year round as it is the gateway to Flaine ski station.

It’s a great climb for several reasons:

• It’s scenic and full of great hairpins
• it’s a perfect warm-up/ training for the grand climbs of the Alps as it is long but rarely too steep
• Now that the skiing is closed, there is very little traffic and it’s a chance to get high while most big Cols are still closed

There is a Golf course at the very top. If you miss the fairway it’s a 21 km drive to the bottom to get your ball!

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The final day of our mini Swiss Alps cycling trip.

We had driven from Gstaad to Villars yesterday - and had to take the long way as the Col de la Croix is still closed due to snow.

But it was our cycling goal, so we decided to have a look from the Villars side. This is a giant climb (20 kilometres 1,370 metres ascent - about 4,500 feet). But today our goal was just a leisurely ride up the far more scenic top half starting in the ski resort of Villars.

See this link for grade details of the entire climb from Bex.

Another perfect day surrounded by the Alps. Although there was a barrier down blocking cars, the route had obviously been ploughed. As we got higher, the snow steadily increased but as we reached 1700 metres I was hopeful of reaching the top.

Suddenly around a bend the road was blocked with a metre of snow! But we were nearly there, so we left the bikes and hiked to the top.

The only Col sign is a plaque (in the above link) but it was buried under piles of snow and I wasn’t sure where to dig .

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Day two of our mini Swiss Alps trip and we investigated two beautiful dead-end valleys starting from Gstaad.

This is cycling paradise with signed routes everywhere, perfectly surfaced roads up high, and scenery to die for. The road to Turbach is signed from Gstaad and good enough for a road bike. A gentle climb alongside a big, babbling torrent.

We continued past Turbach - the road is no longer paved - and found a small road built in the last few years that went up (!) (grades easily 15% and more).

We struggled up this as far as we could get before encountering too much snow to continue - another project for the summer?

After doubling back and eating lunch, we headed to the Lauenen valley. Unbelievable views of the Alps. The valley ends with a climb up to a little lake (Laenensee).

An easy ride back to Gstaad and Cheese fondue to celebrate.

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The French Alps are savage and exciting. But the Swiss Alps always seem picture-postcard beautiful.

Doreen and I are starting the Swiss long weekend in Gstaad, the posh Swiss ski-resort. It’s a cross-roads of endless beautiful cycling routes including Route 5 and Route 9 of the Swiss National Network.

The goal today was a leisurely ride from Gstaad up the Col du Pillon.

Instead of the direct way there is a signed touring bike route along beautiful little quiet roads until the start of the climb. It is truly stunning cycling. The photo below is before the start of Col du Pillon on a tiny and hilly side road.

Col du Pillon (1,546 metres; about 5,000 feet) is not a hard climb, but I always seem to struggle a bit up it. At the top is a cable car to skiing above 3000 metres (+10,000 feet) and there were still a few skiers around.

For a great fairly challenging road bike loop through this beautiful section of the Alps see this link here. About 65 kilometres including Col du Pillon and Col des Mosses.

While I waited for Doreen, I found a tiny little hiking road on the right as you exit the Col towards Les Diablerets. This steep but well surfaced path leads to a little alpine lake Retaud at 1700 metres. It looks like the path might continue but I ran into steep snow and turned back.

We had a nice lunch at the Col and a leisurely descent back to Gstaad.

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The 62nd Tour de Romandie started today. Romandie (Romandy) is the French region of Switzerland so the entire Tour is near me.

The official web site is here.

Eric, Katy and I went to watch the prologue on the lake front of downtown Geneva. The course was only 2 kilometres (just over a mile) taking the riders just over 2 minutes. The course was a quick “there-back” so we could watch each rider start and finish.

After watching the first 50 or so riders we wandered over to the starting platform and we were able to get withing touching distance of the waiting area for the riders. It was pretty fascinating watching each rider go through their personal final preparation.

Easily the most relaxed was defending champion Thomas Dekker, who listened to his I-Pod until the very last moment. In the photo he was responding to some Quick-Step guys pointing at his I-Pod.

British rider Mark Cavendish won the stage and he was richly rewarded for his efforts:

On the victory podium he was presented with the Stage prize, the overall lead yellow jersey, the green points jersey, a white jersey for something I missed — and he even received the pink king-of-the-mountains jersey despite the entire elevation of the stage being 7 metres (20 feet!).

Not bad for 2 minutes work.

The Jet d’Eau (the 100 metre water spout) now has a floating football (soccer ball) above it in anticipation of the 2008 European Championships next month.

PS - Katy (the shorter one below) took all of these great photographs - except the one with her in it of course.

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They just announced the route for the 2008 Dauphinée Libéré and the course looks fantastic. This means it has lots of climbs.

The race will take place from June 8th to June 15th and is used by many teams as a major warm-up before the Tour de France.

The official official race site is here.

The final four days are full of climbs - this will be an exciting and challenging race - featuring legendary climbs like Col de Joux Plane and Col de la Croix de Fer.

But for me, the most exciting part is that stage four will feature the climb behind my house. Up to the Col de la Croisette.

Yes, the Dauphinée will climb Le Salève up the super steep route from Collonge-Sous-Salève. It is rated category one but features 4 kilometres averaging 12% - with a full kilometre averaging 13%. This is steep! Legendary climbs like Alpe d’Huez or Galibier don’t have anything even remotely as steep as this. It will be painful and exciting.

Le Salève is the Massif overlooking the South-west side of Geneva. There are numerous ways to cycle this mountain, but the Dauphinée has picked the toughest - by far. Up top there are thrilling views of Geneva and the lake on one side and the entire French Alps on the other.

If you like hairpins then enjoy:

TRIVIA: Le Salève was mentioned several times in Chapter 7 of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein:

“It was echoed from Saleve, the Juras, and the Alps of Savoy; vivid flashes of lightning dazzled my eyes, illuminating the lake, making it appear like a vast sheet of fire.”

“I thought of pursuing the devil; but it would have been in vain, for another flash discovered him to me hanging among the rocks of the nearly perpendicular ascent of Mont Saleve … ”

“Who could arrest a creature capable of scaling the overhanging sides of Mont Saleve?”

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Are you looking for a challenging cycle touring route in the Alps that visits some of the most famous Tour de France climbs?

The Route des Grandes Alpes starts on the shores of Lake Geneva and crosses 16 of the highest French passes continuing all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Over 700 kilometres (+400 miles) and almost 15,700 metres (51,500 feet) of vertical climb.

The official website in multiple languages is here.

This stunning route includes:

• The Highest Pass in France - Col de l’Iseran @ 2,770 metres (9,090 feet)
• The Longest Climb in France -Col de l’Iseran @ 47.5 kilometres (almost 30 miles)
• The Highest paved road in France - Cimes de la Bonette @ 2,802 metres (9,190 feet)
• The Biggest Vertical Climb in France - Col du Galibier via Telegraphe 2,120 metres (7,000 feet)
• A detour to the base of Alpe d’Huez

The 2008 Tour d’Enfer*

This summer I will ride a week long cycling tour broadly following the Route des Grande Alpes. A trip organized by my friend Leslie that will include people from the USA, Canada, France, Turkey, Germany, and Switzerland.

Our Tour has two main deviations from the official route.

First: On day one we will skip the first 30 or so kilometres from Thones and instead start in Morzine. This avoids a relatively busy boring stretch. We will then do a long-cut around the minor and uninteresting Col des Gets (1,170 metres)and climb the legendary Col de Joux Plane (1,691 metres) - a frequent Tour de France climb in recent years including the miracle Landis day in 2006. Near Taninges, we will rejoin the official route.

Second, we will finish the tour in Barcelonnette. Instead of reaching the Mediterranean, we will spend three days cycling in one of the best locations in France for beautiful climbs. See Barcelonnette - Cycling Paradise for more.

Here are detailed stage descriptions with maps and photos of the upcoming July 2008 Lost Boys Tour d’Enfer.

Day One - Morzine to La Cluses

• 76 kilometres (47 miles); Ascent: 2,400 metres (7,875 feet)
• Col de Joux Plane and Col de la Colombiere

Day Two - La Cluses to Bourg St-Maurice

• 92 kilometres (57 miles); Ascent: 3,030 metres (9,940 feet)
• Col des Aravis, Col des Saisies and Cormet de Roselend

Day Three - Bourg St-Maurice to Lanslebourg

• 80 kilometres (50 miles); Ascent: 2,100 metres (6,890 feet)
• Col de l’Iseran

Day Four - optional day - Watching the Tour de France on Galibier or Alpe d’Huez

• See Preview for link for distance/elevation options
• Col du Lautaret, Col du Galibier - (south side), and possibly Alpe d’Huez

Day Five - St Michelle-en-Maurienne to Briancon

• 71 kilometres (44 miles); Ascent: 2,120 metres (6,950 feet)
• Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier - (north side)

Day Six - Briancon to Barcelonnette

• 97 kilometres (60 miles); Ascent: 2,500 metres (8,200 feet)
• Col de Vars and Col d’Izoard

Days Seven, Eight and Nine - Barcelonnette

• See Link for Climbs Options
• Col de la Bonette, Col d’Allos, Col de la Cayolle, Sainte Anne la Condamine, Col de Vars (south side), Col St Jean, Col de Pontis, etc.

View in Google Earth (requires Google Earth - free)

View Larger Map

*Tour of Hell

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It has been a rough three weeks trying to recover from my calf injury.

Finally, today and yesterday, two VERY light rides. I fear I may still have to take it easy for a few more weeks.

Barry and Martin patiently agreed to ride with me today. They even let several fat guys pass us. When a beautiful girl rode by it was almost too much for them - but they were loyal and slow.

Not being able to cycle has been like falling off a cliff. I feel sluggish and fat. But hopefully, the new season is beginning.

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