Stage 4 - La Grave to Oulx (Italy!)

An easier day today, though with a sting in the tail. We started off for Briancon up the Col de Lauteret, being passed by what seemed like hundreds of classic sports/touring cars engaged in the Coupe des Alpes. Porsches predominated, but there was everything from a vintage Bentley to several Lancia Stratoses. We stopped at the top for coffee and to look at the start of the famous but closed Galibier climb, which has 5 m of snow at the top still. 

Then a great, long, swooping descent to Briancon followed by a relatively civilised (that is, under 10 per cent) climb up the very peaceful wooded Col de L'Echelles. Going down the other side was a bit sketchier, with big drainage gulleys lying in wait. But by then we were in Italy. 

Lunch at Bardoneccia (wild boar ravioli and great espresso) was followed all too soon by a short, brutal up-and-down climb near there, of the infamous Monte Jafferau, which defeated several pro riders in this year's Giro d'Italia. Then a final fast run to Hotel Oberje dla Viere in Oulx – the first good group I've managed to catch and keep up with. I did a couple of turns on the front and paced one rider who got dropped back to the group, so I think my form is improving. I'm definitely the oldest rider in the group this year and possibly, it seems, in Firefly history. 

The weather is holding up well, with some splendid views. And of course, nice as France is, it's a delight to be in Italy, if only for one night.

Me at the top of Lautaret, and happy to be there.
Sorry about the prosthetic leg though...

One of the many Coupe des Alpes cars in the Lautaret carpark.

The dodgy descent to Bardoneccia.

Details AM:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/328080649

Details PM:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/328079840

Rest Day

Everest is 8,848 m. I looked it up. And La Grave is around 1,450 m. 

As I said, we rolled in a bit before 10:00 PM, stopping immediately at the pub for a beer (AKA recovery drink) and crisps (salt replacement) before heading to our bijoux chalets. No time for a shower, just change into T-shirt and trousers, and then off to a restaurant in town up a LOT of steps, where everything took a very long time. Several riders dozed off and we're all very tired. 

I got to bed some time around 1:00 AM and completely failed to get to sleep until nearly five – probably too many caffeinated energy gells –  at which point my room-mate's phone went off.

I eventually staggered out of bed at 08:30 today and had a pleasantly less rushed breakfast, then cleaned and oiled the bike, did some very necessary washing and after that went shopping in the sleepy little village for new sunglasses and materials for a group barbecue lunch beside the rushing, grey, freezing cold river. We must have consumed several head of cattle, not to mention sausages, cheese, bread and salad and fruit – and of course some beer and wine. 

All in all I'm feeling OK apart from a sore bum, but my back was hurting yesterday and the day before. Might be time for a physio session, or at least a sauna.  

The weather tomorrow looks OK, at least in the morning.  Galibier is closed, so no doubt frantic planning is going on while I doze off after lunch.

The view from our chalet at La Grave. Les Deux Alpes is over the peaks on the right.

Fireflies chilling at the chalets, full of smokey, meaty protein.

Stage 3 - Albertville to La Grave

It's 1:00 PM and we're sitting in the sun at 2,000 m at the top of the Col de la Madeleine. It seems our way down is blocked by a fallen tree or landslide, so time for lunch and then we'll see whether we turn back or press on for another 100 km and the Col du Glandon. The climb was fantastically beautiful with hot sun and lots of snow.

Briefly, I made it to La Grave last night at 10:00 PM with a couple of other riders. There were quite a few other groups behind us. Completely mad as most of us didn't have lights. All safely in, however, and nobody in the broom wagon. It was the hardest day I've ever had on a bike. Someone says the total ascent yesterday was getting on for 50 per cent of Everest. I was too tired to check. 

Posing on the way up La Madeleine. The most beautiful col so far.

Higher up Madeleine, and the snow gets deeper.

One down, just the chilly descent and the equally big Col du Glandon to go.

The road to the Glandon climb. It ramps up to 11 per cent towards the top.

Snow and the last of the sun at the top of Glandon.

Details AM:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/327141094

Details PM:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/327498013

Stage 2 - La Clusaz to Albertville

Today was tougher than yesterday, but the weather was sunny and positively hot. It started with an easy 25 km down to the beautiful lake at Annecy for coffee, and then a slightly harder 35 km across to Thones for a decent lunch – rather spoiled for me as my sunglasses went missing.

However, after an easy (and beautiful) start, the afternoon was a different matter. We were faced with five cols culminating with  the Col des Aravis (1,486 m) and the fearsome Col des Saisies (1,650 m). Total distance was 142 km with 2,800 m of climbing – though there was a fine 30 km downhill run to our hotel at Albertville. 

Pretty tiring, but we've just heard that tomorrow will be even tougher: 157 km and an unbelievable – and maybe impossible – 4,500 m of ascent, mostly on two near-2,000 m iconic Tour de France climbs – la Madalaine (just opened to cyclists and motorcycles) and Glandon. Both look pretty steep on the handout.

So I need to get some sleep. I'll hope to fill in today's details as well as Thursday's' epic on Friday, which is a rest day. 

By the lake at Talloires. Good coffee!

'We go up THAT?' Admiring the view from the Col  du Marais climb.

The chapel on the Col du Saisies. Just 40 km to go, downhill.

Details AM:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/326834607

Details PM:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/326834561