Pyrenees and Alps – personal accounts

Hi all,



Yes, just another newby.



I’ve posted this thread to attain some insight into people’s own experiences on climbs in the Pyrenees as well as the French and Italian Alps. As with most people on this forum, I too grew up watching television and reading magazine articles depicting the exhaustion and exhilaration of professional teams and their cyclists. I’m now 36 and time is ticking, it’s time to suffer.




I’m planning a cycling trip in Aug-Sept (2006) of all the best and worst the regions have to offer, if available, I would like some first hand accounts of the best and worst climbs, and any preparation input would also be greatly appreciated.


I have about 35 days to play with, so I am initially planning on alternating climbing and resting days. My general intention is to work my way from the Aquitaine region, through the Midi Pyrenees, then the French Alps and finally, if time permits, the Italian and/or Swiss Alps. As my partner and son will be playing the role of driver & team support personnel, I will not be carrying anything different from training.

Even if you want to give a hairpin-by hairpin account of each climb, I'm all ears (Eyes).


Climbs I am considering so far are;

Alp D’Huez

Chamonix region

Col d'Aspin

Col de la Madeleine

Col de Tourmalet

Col de Peyresourde

Col du Galibier

Col du Grand Colombier

Gavia Pass

Hautacam

Mont Blanc

Mont Ventoux

Mont Vernier

Passo della Stelvio

Val d'Allos




Looking forward to your stories.

Cheers all.

try posting and looking around in the touring section and grand tours/giro/vuelta section.

here's a thread to check:
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t295677...-and-more.html

here's another forum to try:
http://www.bikeforums.net/

I recently completed the raid pyreneen from hendaye to cerbere soam familiar with some of the cols you mention.I used a 50\34 compact with a 27 on the back. Late september was a great time to do it because the weather was warm without being too hot.

going from west to east the first climb we did from your list was the tourmalet.It was on the second day of the raid and came after the col d'aubisque so we were pretty tired.It was early afternoon when we started up the climb and the weather was beautiful.It took me about two hours to get up it. Every km there is a sign showing the height, distance to the top and the gradient for the next km so you know how much you are going to suffer. I ran low on water abouthalf way up but topped up at a tap outside a cemetry (handy tip for the pyrenees, there is always water outside the cemetries).
Its a long slog but the gradient is steady until you can see the top when it increases to 10 or 11% for the last 3 km.there was a great feeling of achievement on the top which I didnt really get again because no hill after that felt as hard. The decent was brilliant with no dangerous bends so you can really let go.
The following morning was misty as we set out to do the col d'aspin.Most of the climb was through a forest so there is'nt much to see. THe legs were tired from the previous day but I dont think it was particularly hard. The decent. was more technical than the tourmalet but great fun.after a few miles on a flat valley floor came the colde peyresourde. its tougher than aspin especially the last few k but there is a cafe on the top that sells marvelous crepes so its worth stopping.the cafe was warm and it was a struggle going out in the cold but the decent was fantastic, it seemed to on for ever. on of those radar speed signs at the edge of a village flashed my speed at 79kph.
we didnt do any of the other hills on your list .