jabbahop
05-19-2009, 07:08 AM
A friend and I just signed up for the Serotta trip with GPM10 @ the end of August. I've never biked in Europe before but it sounds fantastic but very hard.
Here is the description
Chamonix to Champex Lac 56km
After breakfast, we assemble and check the bikes before setting off up the Chamonix Valley, climbing Col des Montets (1,461m) and descending into Switzerland. The next climb brings us to Col des Forclaz (1,527m) for a fast descent into the Rhône Valley. The third climb of the day starts on the valley floor, in the outskirts of Martigny, and ends in beautiful lakeside village of Champex, high in the Swiss Alps.
Saturday - Champex to Pré-Saint-Didier 110km
The day begins with a swift descent through picturesque villages to Orsières on the floor of the historic Val d’Entremont. There is a long and gentle ascent up the main valley road before forking off to climb the Col du Grand St Bernard (2,473m). Once over the border into Italy, there is a long, fast downhill to Aosta, followed by a steady climb up to our base for the night in the old spa town of Pré-Saint-Didier.
Sunday - Pré-Saint-Didier to Hautluce 105km
The day begins with a steady 23.5km climb to Col de Petit St Bernard (2,188m). We cross back into France for the descent to Bourg St Maurice. This is the southern end of the Mont Blanc massif and there are superb views of the high mountains ascending Cormet de Roseland (1,968m) – a tough climb where Miguel Indurain ‘bonked’ during the 1996 Tour De France, ending his chance of a record sixth consecutive victory. A long, fast descent past the turquoise Lac de Roseland and through pine forests ends in Beaufort. The final climb brings us to village of Hautluce.
Monday - Hautluce to Chamonix 149km
The final day is tough. It starts with a short warm up spin on a flat section, before climbing Col des Saisies (1,633m) – another hard climb that features in the Tour de France: Floyd Landis famously launched his ‘miracle charge’ in 2006 on this mountain, later testing positive for testosterone! We then race down to the small town of Flumet before launching into Col des Aravis (1,498m). After a short descent through La Grand Bornand we climb the Col de la Colombière (1,618m), a leg-breaking pass with an arduous final stretch, connecting the Arve and Borne valleys. There is a thrilling, technical descent to Cluses and a flat section before the final, gentler climb on back roads, to reach Chamonix.
Anyone done these climbs before? Any advice on getting ready for the trip?
Here is the description
Chamonix to Champex Lac 56km
After breakfast, we assemble and check the bikes before setting off up the Chamonix Valley, climbing Col des Montets (1,461m) and descending into Switzerland. The next climb brings us to Col des Forclaz (1,527m) for a fast descent into the Rhône Valley. The third climb of the day starts on the valley floor, in the outskirts of Martigny, and ends in beautiful lakeside village of Champex, high in the Swiss Alps.
Saturday - Champex to Pré-Saint-Didier 110km
The day begins with a swift descent through picturesque villages to Orsières on the floor of the historic Val d’Entremont. There is a long and gentle ascent up the main valley road before forking off to climb the Col du Grand St Bernard (2,473m). Once over the border into Italy, there is a long, fast downhill to Aosta, followed by a steady climb up to our base for the night in the old spa town of Pré-Saint-Didier.
Sunday - Pré-Saint-Didier to Hautluce 105km
The day begins with a steady 23.5km climb to Col de Petit St Bernard (2,188m). We cross back into France for the descent to Bourg St Maurice. This is the southern end of the Mont Blanc massif and there are superb views of the high mountains ascending Cormet de Roseland (1,968m) – a tough climb where Miguel Indurain ‘bonked’ during the 1996 Tour De France, ending his chance of a record sixth consecutive victory. A long, fast descent past the turquoise Lac de Roseland and through pine forests ends in Beaufort. The final climb brings us to village of Hautluce.
Monday - Hautluce to Chamonix 149km
The final day is tough. It starts with a short warm up spin on a flat section, before climbing Col des Saisies (1,633m) – another hard climb that features in the Tour de France: Floyd Landis famously launched his ‘miracle charge’ in 2006 on this mountain, later testing positive for testosterone! We then race down to the small town of Flumet before launching into Col des Aravis (1,498m). After a short descent through La Grand Bornand we climb the Col de la Colombière (1,618m), a leg-breaking pass with an arduous final stretch, connecting the Arve and Borne valleys. There is a thrilling, technical descent to Cluses and a flat section before the final, gentler climb on back roads, to reach Chamonix.
Anyone done these climbs before? Any advice on getting ready for the trip?