A group of guests have ridden the Marmotte route minus the Alpe today and what a beautiful day for it. Summer est arrivee – over 30 degrees and clear blue skies. They had a fantastic day, tougher than expected – that’s the Alpes but totally amazed by the scenery.

 Where is this photo taken from ?

Sunday afternoon was free at Le Velo Jaune b&b (all our guests had gone off to do the Galibier either from the Telegraph or Valloire) so we decided to cycle over Col d’Ornon and try a new ride over the otherside that a friend had told us about. It was a beautiful day Sun shining, clear and not too hot. It took two goes for me to ascend the Col, not because my legs gave way but the rachet on my shoe fastner went and there was no way I was attempting to cycle with Alan with a broken shoe, it is hard enough when everything is in tact. at least it’s a flat return through Bourg d’Oisans home.

Once over Col d’Ornon, a great climb it was the long descent to Entraigues. As ever the scenery was stunning however the poppy field was amazing, it was worth stopping on the descent for the photo. Once at Entrigues it was left and up the valley for 10km to Valsenestre once again beautiful. A dead end road but well worth. Then it was the return home – a back wind all the way – lovely

Well we decided to go up the Croix de Fer in the nice weather in order to make up for the other two previous epic adventures, a rainy bike ride and a snowy drive! Basically the Croix de Fer from Le Velo Jaune is 20k flat followed by 20k up. In our normal fashion we flew down the valley road, Alan always says hold it at 20mph (he works in old money!) and this never happens and then I am virtually on my last legs as soon as we hit the first climb. It was a lovely hot day, a slight back wind up so off we went, once passed the EDF reservoir in Allemont it’s up the relentless 5k to Allemont l’Rivere, last water and toilet stop before the top. It’s then the worst bit a drop to the river , a ich out at about 18% then another droop and kich out at between 10 & 14% up to the Grand Maison EDF, I find this harder than the Galibier. Once up at the reservoir theres a slight downhill before the gentle 5% 6k to the top. As we approached the top the weather was coming in, Alan gave me all of 2 minutes to eat my sandwich (he’d had 10) then it was the fantastic descent three shortish up to spoil the momentum. It drizzled a bit so we had to be careful. On the last 5k and Alan a rear wheel blow out at 40mph!!! luckily all was ok and it was back to Bourg and Le Velo Jaune, a lot slower than on the way out, my legs hurt!! A good day.

The Galibier opened yesterday so since it was a beautiful day I thought no time like the present to tackle it, I did think it was going to be a bit like all the gear and no idea how my legs were feeling (maybe one to many wines last night in the bar!)

In simple terms from Le Velo Jaune the Galibier is 42km up followed by 42km down! It’s straight out the house onto the Lauteret which starts with a nice – not 7% the road then continues up to the barrage by the turn to Deux Alpes then it’s the drag to La Grave, a very picturesque ride but a drag, because you follow the river you feel you shouldn’t be climbing but you are. I always thought La Barade was 16k from Le Velo Jaune in fact it’s 22 thus why it feels so far. Once through La Grave its the nice climb to the the top of the Lauteret round a number of switch backs, the tunnels aren’t very pleasant. There is a great new section of road – lovely and smooth ready for the Dauphine Libre next week. Once at the top of the Lauteret it’s the final 8k up the Galibier, the air temp certainly changed as the road went through walls of snow. There weren’t that many cyclists about but over took 4 and as overtaken by 1 so it felt good. Unfortunately the final k to the top was closed due to avalanche danger, so I had to stop at the tunnel, next time to the top. Then it was the great descent, parts felt like a luge with the walls of snow – fantastic. As I couldn’t get to the top  added on the Bons climb on the way back just to ensure I had one enough climbing. Then the final descent home, shower and chill out on the balcony in 30 degrees.

June 3rd saw 5th Alpe d’HuZes charity ride which is organised by the Dutch and they certainly know how to lay on an event. The event is to raise money for the Dutch Cancer charity and this year it raised over 10 million euros! The challenge is to cycle up Alp d’Huez 6 times in 14 hours!! that is tough. However I think the real objective is how many times you can do it. There were approximately 3500 cyclists taking part and 100 runners. All types of people young and old, pro’s and beginners. The best rider achieved 10 times up the Alpe!! 

There have been over 10000 Dutch in Bourg over the last few days which saw Wednesday as ‘Supporters day’ to ride up the alpe and even for this they laid on music, water stops and a proper finish, we did it – superb fun with tons of support. The main event was yesterday and tonight is party night up in the Alpe, it is certainly worth a visit to see it.

Now we have the Dauphine Libre to look forward to next Fri & Sat, it passes 100m from the house on Fri and finishes up the Alpe on Saturday.

Though I`d go for a ride up for the first time this year with a friend who was over to try some proper climbs!

It was a perfect day for the short but good climb up to the church. The tunnels are un-lit which makes for an interesting ride through.This year the tunnels were streaming with water through the ceiling etc and made for a very wet ride through them.

Back out into the sunshine  = lovely. The road surface this year had taken a bit of a battering from the winter but nothing like a good old British road.

The rest of the ride was great as it is perfect for short sprints etc.

The descent was cold through the tunnels and we ended up covered in mud from them – time to clean muddy bikes on a sunny day ?
All in all a good ride out, one we hadn’t done since last year.