The Alps Part 2

Following the day that nearly killed us all, we opted for relatively easier (there is no easy ride in the Alps!) day on Wednesday. This time we headed north from the chalet, up the final 5km of the Col de Aravis, and down the hairpin descent into La Clusaz. We were heading for the Col de la Colombière, although with no-one actually carrying a map we started heading “in the right sort direction” up a narrow un-signposted road assured by a “local” that we were on the Colombière. We weren't. Having reached a no through road sign, and after plenty of faff we turned back to La Clusaz where we picked up the actual road to Grand Bernard where the easer side of the climb starts. Feeling terrible after the previous days efforts half of the group decided to call it a day half way up the climb and retreated to a café in the town. Regrouping with the riders who got to the summit, we started the long drag back to La Clusaz and finally a steady ride up the harder side of the Aravis. Despite the small number of the climbs, this still equated to nearly 4 hours of riding! Not bad for an “easy day”.

We then had a well earned rest day, heading down to Flumet where we found a public pool with café – a suitably Euro location to reside for the day. After a coffee, brief 'swim' in the pool and game of “who can stay on the bike longest while we ride into each other in a enclosed area”, we headed back up the 6km climb to the chalet.

Saturday was planned for a repeat trip of Wednesdays ride to the Col de la Colombière, but then to carry onto the bottom to Cluses to ride up the Col de Romme, and harder side of Colombière. By this time into the week, I was really suffering with back pains, and after another race effort up the Colombière (easily won by James), I decided to save myself so I could hopefully sort my back out and have a good final day to go hard. Riding back steady with Tom Morris, who had been suffering with a knee problem all week, while the other continued. Although I missed out on the Romme, the first climb I rode on last years trip to the Alps – an absolutely savage 10km relentlessly steep climb – it was definitely a good decision, as that would have probably stopped me riding tomorrow as well.

After non-stop stretching, my back was feeling ok again, and after 3 easy(ier) days the final day had to be a tough one. The route would be a similar affair to Tuesdays (the day that nearly killed us). However, I decided to get the most of the day I wouldn't race flat out up the climbs, but ride hard up all of them. With just 3 of us willing to go on at the top of the Saisais, Andy, Wojciech and I, we continued to the summit of the Cormet de Roseland. However, we now opted for a different way back, Heading to Arêches, we passed over the Barrage de Roseland dam, and then up the the Col u Pré. However, we soon realised that we had missed out on on the descent to Beaufort, a town we passed at the base of the Roseland. The narrow, steep, hairpin littered road will surely rival the Romme as an ascent, and will be the first one on the paper for next years alpine trip! Opting for a non-mountainous way home, we next headed down the valley road to Albertville, and what started as a good pace, taking turns to tick over the 20 kilometres, turned into a 50kph+ 3up time trial, a chain-gang, and eventually an all out race! Stopping in Albertville we found a local bakery and consumed what must have been an entire pack of chocolate digestives made into one massive biscuit! Finally we had the valley road back to Flumet, which by name suggests it didn't go over any mountain, but in reality demanded the same gearing and speed we had become accustomed to over the cols! After a long steady effort we arrived in Flumet, and in one final hurrah, declared an all out race to the summit against Andy! I dropped him instantly, and rode flat out to the top, over coming the lure of pulling into the chalet half way up, and even contested my own little sprint!

It really was a heck of a week, and am quoted we rode 16,000 metres height gain, nearly twice up Everest! Despite my illness of the back of the camp, which although not ideal at least forced me into a proper rest. All this should put me in good condition for next week when I will be riding the Tour of Liege – 5 days racing in the Ardenne!

The race website and routes can be viewed here:
http://www.tpliege.be/index-eng.html