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Route des Grandes Alpes - French Alps 2010
Day 01 - 22 Jul 2010
A train took me from Munich to Geneva in about 7 hours, changing in St Gallen. In mediocre weather a short stage via Annecy to a campsite near Albertville, and there was even a first pass in it, Col de Sion ...
Day 02 - 23 Jul 2010
Off in pouring rain and with a soaking wet tent via Albertville, looking for the start of the climb to the Col de la Madeleine (1993m), and finding it...
and because it was so nice I pedalled on up to a campsite at the Col du Glandon (1924m).
Day 03 - 24 Jul 2010
The next morning also began with the Col du Glandon (1924m), quite a puffer, but wonderfully lonely
and after a fast descent on to the stage destinations L'Alpe d'Huez (1860m) and Col de Sarenne (1999m)
and to a rather hidden campsite at the foot of the Col de Sarenne in Mizoen. The night in the wilderness was a bit loud all the same, as a wedding was being celebrated nearby, with fireworks at midnight. The place is guaranteed “motorhome-free”, as it can only be reached over steep terraces.
Day 04 - 25 Jul 2010
A day of many kilometres over the Col du Lautaret (2058m) and a long valley to Briançon, then west past some passes that I will ride on the way back, a few smaller climbs at the Lac de Serre-Ponçon and into the Ubaye valley to a small nature campsite (4.40 euros a night with a shower).
Day 05 - 26 Jul 2010
One of the most beautiful passes for me: Col de la Cayolle (2326m), quite little traffic, a climb in a winding river valley and an endless descent to Guillaumes in continuing fine weather.
Day 06 - 27 Jul 2010
After the Col de la Couillole (1678m) it somehow was not far to Nice any more... but a few small climbs still had to be overcome at the gates of the Mediterranean. In one go via Monaco to Menton and spent the night there on a campsite high above the town with many other tourists.
Day 07 - 28 Jul 2010
You should not underestimate these small passes near the Mediterranean; on the elevation profiles they look rather puny next to giants like the Col de la Bonette, but you start climbing from further “down”... today it was the Col de Castillon (707m) and the Col de Turini (1607m), and then on to a very nice campsite in Saint-Martin-Vésubie.
Day 08 - 29 Jul 2010
A short day to catch my breath; I want to get as close as possible to the foot of the Col de la Bonette and therefore stay overnight in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, with only the Col St. Martin (1500m) in between.
Day 09 - 30 Jul 2010
I was already on the bike at 6:30 and it paid off: the ascent of the Col de la Bonette (2802m) that early in the morning was hardly trafficked. After all it is one of the highest passes in the Alps, the French sometimes say the highest, but for that you have to count the little loop too, which you actually do not have to ride...
and the Col de Vars (2110m) was also still on the programme that day, as I was in the swing. After a lunch break with fruit juice, baguette, cheese and apples.
Day 10 - 31 Jul 2010
At weekends there are noticeably more cyclists on the passes; today a classic, the Col d'Izoard (2361m), and in the afternoon, slowly gaining altitude via Briançon, towards the Lautaret. Continuing sunny and hot weather.
Day 11 - 1 Aug 2010
The three passes Col du Lautaret (2058m), Col du Galibier (2646m) and Col du Télégraphe (1570m) are really only one. Past the memorial to Henri Desgrange, the founder of the Tour de France.
Day 12 - 2 Aug 2010
A small saddle on the way to the big Col de l'Iseran (2764m) is the Col de la Madeleine (1717m). The Iseran acted as a weather divide: sunshine in the south, rain on the north side. I skipped my lunch break, which I had taken in the last days because of the great heat, and rode straight on to the two passes Cormet de Roselend (1968m) and Col de Méraillet (1605m). I had hardly put up the tent when torrential rain began. The campsite “les sources” had a big dry common room, though.
Day 13 - 3 Aug 2010
Off in the rain up the Col des Saisies (1650m); gradually I have got used to the mountains, so I added more straight away: Col des Aravis (1486m) and Col de la Colombière (1618m), and after the Colombière there is a small side route that demands a few more metres of climbing but offers a nice view of the Arve river valley.
Day 14 - 4 Aug 2010
The last pass of the trip, the Col de Jambaz (1027m), offered one more view of Mont Blanc on the way, and then came a long, leisurely descent to Lake Geneva at Thonon. On east via Evian (where of course I filled my water bottles at a fountain) and via Montreux the start of the Swiss “Route des Lacs”: well signposted small side roads with sometimes vicious gradients.
Day 15 - 5 Aug 2010
In continuing bad weather the routing, over now partly narrow unpaved farm tracks, began to get on my nerves, and as the further weather outlook was far too gloomy for the next days, I took the train in Interlaken in the afternoon and went to Munich, changing in Bern, Zurich, St. Gallen, St. Margarethen, Bregenz, Lindau and Buchloe...
