Big Smurf: Col duTelegraph, Galibier & Alpe d'Huez - Big Col day

The Big Col Day

Northern Ascent

Start town :	St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Starting Altitude :	712 metres
Distance :	35 kilometres, 11.5 kilometre ascent of Col du Telegraphe with four kilometre descent to Valloire then 18.5 kilometre climb of Col du Galibier
Vertical Climb :	2100 metres
Gradient :	Col du Telegraphe : 7.3% average - 9% maximum Col du Galibier : 6.9% average - 10% maximum
Comments :	The Telegraphe has to be climbed before the Galibier with climbing from St-Michel-de-Maurienne.

This trip was going to take in some of the most famous climbs in the Alps.

It was a relatively early start and with bikes and people packed into the vans we headed off to the start. It was quite a drive and we all had plenty of time to think about the challenge ahead.

Fari and I were going to ride the Telegraph first, while the other guys were going to take the van to the base of the Galibier and ride from there. After being dropped off Fari, Ade (our guide) and I headed off. Fari, as usual set a hard pace an before too long she opened up a considerable gap. I had to make a decision as to whether to try and close the gap straight away and hang on in, or go at my own pace and try to close the gap over the course of the mountain. The latter made more sense so i let her go off and Ade stayed with me. It worked quite well as Ade was more than happy to help me get back on her wheel, so we slowly but surely reeled her back in some way further up the mountain. This was not going to be a day for stopping to take photos.

It was a long slog but we eventually caught Fari up and i was happy to then sit on her wheel for a while until deciding to push the pace to the top. The top of the Telegraph didn't soon enough and after one of our few photo opportunities we headed off for a short decent to start our assualt of the Galibier.

Col Du Telegraph

The Col du Télégraphe was first used in the Tour de France in 1911; the first rider over the summit was Emile Georget. Since 1947, the Col du Télégraphe has been crossed 29 times by the Tour de France. Onseveral of those occasions it has not been ranked for points in the King of the Mountains competition, being treated as part of the descent from the Col du Galibier, and has been ranked for points only 18 times.In the 2007 Tour, the Col du Télégraphe was crossed on 17 July in the 159.5 km stage 9 from Val-d'Isère to Briançon. Euskaltel-Euskadi rider Mikel Astarloza was the first man over the top.

(For more information see link below)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Télégraphe

Col du Galibier - 2646 metres

One of the most impressive climbs in all of the French Alps. High peaks, glaciers and over two kilometres of vertical climbing from the northern side. This climb is the third of the four in the Marmotte sportif event in July.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Galibier

Average : 6.9 %

Length: 18.1 km

Height start: 1401 m

Height top: 2646 m

Gradient: 1245 m

The Galibier was going to be a very different beast and after our decent we headed to the van

to fill up our water bottles and start the ascent.

Chris met us in the van but no sooner had we pulled in to fill up Fari decided she didn't want to hang about so off she went again and headed off into the distance. By the time Ade and i had filled our bottles and had an energy bar she was no where to be seen and had a good 1/2 mile on us. The Galibier was going to be very windy and Ade again helped pull me up the mountain and was happy to shield me as much as possible from the wind.

I had hoped we could catch the other guys, who by now would be a good way up the Galibier already, but with this wind it was going to be tough. First challenge was to get back on Fari's wheel and that was going to be no mean feat. Fari is a very strong and consistent climber and it was going to take some determination to pull back the distance. Keeping on Ades wheel certainly made it easier and after a few miles we spotted fari ahead. It was a releif to eventually get back on her wheel but possibly the challenge on the telegraph an the Galibier was going to prove a bit too much for me this time. I did try to make a break closer to the top of the Galibier but did not have the strength and I think Ade had looked at me and thought (he's fucked) - I was. With 1km to go Fari went again and i ha dnothing left. It was a releif we were so close to the top and seeing the van and the rest of the guys was a welcome releif.

I had not felt so sick for ages and was not really relishing the thought of the Alp'D'Huez. What made it even more frustrating was the fact that the other guys were all looking fresh and had actually enjoyed the climb. Bastards.

Al and the rest of the crew had a great ride up the Galibier. Ade took some photos of the gang on their way up this magnificent climb.

The descent down the Col Du Lauteret

After some refreshments we were back on our bikes and ready for what was going to be one of the greatest decents ever. I was feeling much better now and loved the decent. Grant was able to get the fastest decent of the trip at 53 mph (mine was 51mph). It is frightening when you think of the speed and what damage it could do to you if you were unfortunate enough to come off - so best not think about it hey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Lautaret

The Alp D'Huez

I have climbed the Alp D'Huez before when it was part of the Etape in 2007 and with temperatures reaching 40 degrees, it was a tough and very exhausting experience. I was looking forward to the climb but wasn't feeling on top form and figure in my eagerness to catch Fari and try to get up the Galibier quickly, I had blown it.

Fari and Inaki had ridden straight past the van which was parked a few km from the start of the climb as the rest of us stopped to fill up our bottles and make any adjustments to our gear/bikes before the climb.

So, what was the plan? Well, to get up without problems would be good. I followed the rest of the crew and was going to try and pass as many people as possible over the course of the climb. Taking a nice steady pace I made my way up and made my way past some of the crew. I knew Johnny was fresh and I was aware that he was working his way up, passing those i had passed a little earlier.

To be honest I was not feeling that fresh and although i had no doubt i would get up without the need to get off (heaven forbid), I was not sure I could make enough of a break to keep Johnny at bay. He was steadily gaining on me and I had to make a decision - make a break for it (could i sustain it?) or sit back, let him help me up the climb (that is, as long as I could hold onto his wheel).

Well I chose the latter and decided to hold on to his wheel until either I felt like I could make a break or until he started to flag. Approx 2km from the top i decided to make a break - the gradient was perfect for me and getting out of the saddle and powering down through the pedals helped me gain some distance.

Alpe d'Huez (1830m)

The most famous climb in cycling. 21 hairpins take you from the valley floor up to the ski resort of Alpe d'Huez. It is also possible to continue from Alpe d'Huez over the Col de Sarennes and descend down to the Barrage du Chambon at the foot of the Deux Alpes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpe d'Huez