velotel
10-03-2011, 03:51 AM
A gorgeous day, couldn't have been better. Not a cloud in the sky, temperatures not too hot, not too cold, in other words perfect for riding. Almost no cyclists at all. Met 2 coming down while I was going up, saw 3 on the col, and that's it. On the other hand must have seen at least 150 motorcyclists, maybe 200. In both directions, on all sorts of bikes. In two's, threes, alone, groups of 6 and more. Nothing organized, just out like I was, taking advantage of the weather.
This climb has been added to my elite group of favorite climbs, along with la Bonette and the south side of the Galibier and a few others. Start was down the valley from the village of Lanslebourg, which is also the start of the climb to Col du Mont Cenis. Comfortable, laid back village. For a french ski resort village amazingly low key actually.
The road to the col has 3 sections, a section with some steep pitches away from the ski resort, a long section in an almost flat valley, and then the final climb to the col. That last section has lots of steep along the way. The middle section was, at least for me, a dream. Rolling easily on my big chainring in the midst of high peaks, some snow clad, some with small glaciers, all steep. The last section is hard but lovely with great views and constantly changing scenery. I had no idea where the col was until I was within a couple kms of it.
Excellent downhill, very fast, semi-technical, lots of concentration required. Definitely a road for passing cars, at least in the upper section. That long, sweet, big chainring valley was a bit of a workout due to the normal afternoon wind heading up the valley, and the last section down to Lanslebourg was fast and fun with some sweet round linked turns.
All in all a fine day. Hard to believe that was the 2nd of october with weather like that. A few shots now to show you the way.
This climb has been added to my elite group of favorite climbs, along with la Bonette and the south side of the Galibier and a few others. Start was down the valley from the village of Lanslebourg, which is also the start of the climb to Col du Mont Cenis. Comfortable, laid back village. For a french ski resort village amazingly low key actually.
The road to the col has 3 sections, a section with some steep pitches away from the ski resort, a long section in an almost flat valley, and then the final climb to the col. That last section has lots of steep along the way. The middle section was, at least for me, a dream. Rolling easily on my big chainring in the midst of high peaks, some snow clad, some with small glaciers, all steep. The last section is hard but lovely with great views and constantly changing scenery. I had no idea where the col was until I was within a couple kms of it.
Excellent downhill, very fast, semi-technical, lots of concentration required. Definitely a road for passing cars, at least in the upper section. That long, sweet, big chainring valley was a bit of a workout due to the normal afternoon wind heading up the valley, and the last section down to Lanslebourg was fast and fun with some sweet round linked turns.
All in all a fine day. Hard to believe that was the 2nd of october with weather like that. A few shots now to show you the way.