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August 2000 Diary

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13th August - Three cols in the Chartreuse

With two weeks till the 125 kilometre Megeve Mt Blanc sportif, the Cols of the Chartreuse massif were similar to the climbs around Megeve and La Clusaz. I needed climbs that were not too long, and a steady six or seven percent gradient. The route I chose was the Chartreuse Route 2, taking in the Col du Porte (1326m), Col du Cucheron (1139m) and then final ascent of the Col du Coq (1434m).

After leaving home, I cycled alongside the Isere river in the quiet St Laurent quarter of Grenoble and immediately began climbing through La Tronche and then turned off on the road to the Col du Porte and started my stopwatch here. The Col du Porte is a 15-kilometre climb with the first half being the toughest. The sky was blue and cloudless and the hazy outline of the alpine peaks of the Belledonne range could be seen across the valley.

I climbed through the village of Correnc after five kilometres and then on towards the halfway point of the climb at the 781 metre Col du Vence. The road is steep just before the Col, but the slow speed does allow you to take in the impressive view of the sprawl of Grenoble stretching into the distance with the backdrop of the peaks of the Vercors and Alps. The Col du Vence is the gateway into the Chartreuse from Grenoble and is a popular stopping point for walkers climbing to the Fort St Eynard, the impressive cliff top fort that dominates the city's northern skyline.

With six kilometres to the Col, I passed through La Sappey en Chartreuse, a pretty village with the backdrop of the peaks of Chamchaude and La Pinea. At 2083 metres, Chamchaude is the highest peak in the Chartreuse range and a lovely looking mountain. Wooded lower slopes with pale cliff faces rising above the trees. The Col du Porte can be seen off to the left, the wooded dip between the two mountains.

The gradient eases after Sappey and I was able to turn some bigger gears for the final 15 minutes to the Col. Fields and houses disappeared and pine forest took over, eventually opening out at the 1326 metre Col, 55 minutes and 44 seconds later. The Col was full of activity with people browsing the little market that was selling local produce. After a night of thunderstorms, the road was still wet under the trees so took it easy on corners for the eight kilometres descent to St Pierre de Chartreuse.

I turned left before the small climb to St Pierre de Chartreuse and continued dropping down through the Gorges du Giers Morte in the direction of St-Laurent-du-Pont.

I bought a pain au chocolate in St-Laurent, and then left the busy main road on the edge of town and took the road towards St Pierre d'Entremont and the Stations de Chartreuse. The road was flat for the first few kilometres and then started to climb in gradual ramps before climbing to the Gorges du Giers Vif. It is certainly worth stopping just before the first tunnel to admire the impressive drop down to the stream below and the pretty villages perched on the mountainside opposite.

The eight-kilometre climb of Col du Cucheron starts by hairpinning its way out of St Pierre d'Entremont and then follows the left-hand side of a valley. The road passed alongside fields, through sleepy little villages and wooded sections. The higher I climbed, the more the view improved of the 2000 metre Chartreuse peak of the Grand Som dominating the right hand side of the valley. I should also point out that there are numerous opportunities to refill water bottles on this climb, as there seemed to be a water fountain every 500 metres.

From the Col du Cucheron, there was a good view of the Col du Granier to the north. The Chartreuse mountains are very pretty rolling range and the view is particularly impressive from this col. The roads were very quiet considering that it was the height of the summer holiday. In a few hours of riding, I had only seen a handful of cyclists.

After four kilometres of descending, I didn't follow the signs that were redirecting traffic around the village but carried on. The village centre in St Pierre du Chartreuse was blocked to traffic for a village fair and the crowds were certainly here. Local producers were selling wine, cheese and sausages and there was a lovely smell as I carefully picked my way through the people.

The last climb of the Col du Coq was tougher than I thought it was going to be. It was 12 kilometres to the top and I knew there were sections of 16% in the middle section of the climb. I filled my water bottle near the bottom and quickly pedalled off as there was a huge horsefly sunning itself on the trough, and I didn't want it to take a liking to my sweaty legs.

The gradient on the climb changed frequently and I found myself regularly changing gear to try and feel comfortable. When I finally hit the 16% stretch, I had to cycle out of the saddle and grovel up in 39-26. At this point, I could only think of that horsefly and what a prime target I now was. What also made this section hard was the road was straight and I could see the ramp that I had to climb. I prefer a lot more hairpins.

Thankfully the gradient did ease and then the road descended for a kilometre before the final three kilometres of climbing. Every so often, the trees would clear to give a view of a nearby wooded mountainside or a mountain peak. A very pretty climb!

I didn't stop at the 1434 metre Col, but donned my helmet and sunglasses, and began the rapid descent. The nine- percent gradient and frequent hairpins were great fun as I caught and passed the cars that had overtaken me near the top of the climb. All too soon I was back at 350 metres and the temperature had shot up into the thirties for the flat run back to the city. The mountains in the Alps were already generating lots of clouds, clouds that would create impressive thunderstorms later in the day. 115km and 2,700 metres of climbing but not sure how fast as my Cateye Altimeter had packed up.

 

21st August - Chamrousse

Chamrousse is the closest ski resort to Grenoble and the road with the biggest vertical climb around the city. The main climb starts in the village of Uriage-les-Bains, situated under the Belledonne range at 410 metres and climbs to Chamrousse 1750. If you take the main road from Grenoble then you can count the climb as starting in Gieres at 280 metres, and that is a vertical climb of 1,500 metres. From Gieres, there are seven kilometres at three or four percent gradient before you reach Uriage and then there is the choice of two ascents, both starting in Uriage and a kilometre apart. It is a circular route and if you climb one then you will descend the other and vice versa.

I chose the 19 kilometre northern ascent for two reasons. The first reason was that the bottom is the hardest part of this ascent with the gradient averaging around eight percent for the first eight kilometres. The climb then flattens to an easier five percent for the final ten kilometres. The second reason for climbing this side was that I enjoyed the views of the high peaks of the Belledonne range when cycling the western hairpins. The view of Grenoble and the surrounding mountains steadily improves the higher you climb.

 

The 18 kilometre southern ascent is a steadier gradient climbing at around seven percent for the whole 19 kilometres, climbing through woods and at the halfway point, past a lovely little lake that is frozen throughout the winter.

After two kilometres, I passed over the new cobbled section of road in the village of St Martin de Uriage and enjoyed the brief easing of the gradient. There was a fountain in the village square, and a number of people enjoying drinks at the surrounding bars. Although it was cloudy, the temperature was still reading just under 30 degrees and the sweat was pouring off my head. I had attached my helmet to the handlebars, as I prefer the wind in my hair on the climb and then the safety of a helmet on the descent.

The traffic decreases after the village of St Martin and the climb soon takes you through forest. The restaurant at La Seiglieres is just under halfway and marks the point the gradient eases to about five percent. It is amazing that you can leave a city the size of Grenoble and be cycling through quiet countryside within minutes.

The road is wide and the surface is excellent for the majority of the climb. Unfortunately the views were disappearing as I climbed through light cloud and the wind was starting the blow on the exposed sections of road above 1,400 metres. With one kilometre to the top, I passed through Chamrousse 1650 and was able to take some much-needed respite from the wind that had made the previous 500 metres of five percent feel like 10 percent. I knew it was just over a kilometre to the top.

The southern descent is a lot of fun. There are frequent hairpins on a wide road and there are views towards the high Vercors stretching into the distance. Halfway down the climb there is the option to turn off and descend the Col Luitel, but I had to get back to work and continued descending for another ten kilometres to Uriage, and then the final small climb before the descent to Grenoble.

 

27th August - The Megeve Mt Blanc Sportif, four Cols and terrible weather

The wind that had been howling on the Saturday evening still continued at four in the morning as I left Grenoble for Megeve. I needed to leave early in order to pick up my inscription before the event and have enough time to join the other riders to get a position near the front of the bunch.

The Megeve Mont Blanc is an event that I like. The climbs included are shorter and less steep than in other alpine events. The mountain passes may not be as high as the other events in the Alps, but they are very pretty and the event crosses some of the most famous passes in the Alps. The day's climbs would comprise of the les Saisies, les Aravis, le Colombiere, le Romme-sur-Cluses and then the final climb up the Cote du Domancy and then to Megeve.

Unfortunately, the closer I drove to Megeve, the further the weather deteriorated. The previous day had been 30 degrees but thermometers were reading 15 degrees in Flumet, eight kilometres before Megeve. I arrived in plenty of time and parked in the large car park near the departure area for the event. Megeve was still asleep under the cover of darkness, and it was raining heavily. There would be no views of the Mont Blanc when the sun rose.

As I collected my subscription, I read that due to the state of the forest road, the route for the day would miss out the first climb up to les Saisies. The 133 kilometres had just been reduced to 108, the climbing to 2,700 metres from 3,300, and that suited me fine. The rain was lashing down.

The rain finally eased and the sun rose to show grey cloud hugged the mountainsides around Megeve. With half an hour to the start, I passed through the rider check and joined the cyclists already lined up. I was about the seventh row back from the front and others soon joined behind me. I saw one guy with number '1390' on his back but I am sure that the day's weather would have discouraged a number of riders. The final bunch was over 1,100 riders.

Following the interview with Charly Mottet, the bunch was given the off and eight treacherous kilometres of descending began. The road was wet and the huge group was travelling too fast and too close together. Every so often, cries of 'up, up' would have everybody grabbing for their brakes and then a concertina effect of everybody slowing down and then sprinting to regain their place.

Just outside Flumet, we joined another road and climbed for a kilometre on the main Saisies road before descending back into Flumet. There was a little too much bravado in some cyclists and I saw three guys picking themselves up off the floor after taking one of the numerous hairpins too quickly.

Things calmed down on the climb to the 1498 metre Col des Aravis, as little groups were formed on the flat road before the climb steepened. The rain started to fall heavily and just after the village halfway up the climb, I passed the 'five kilometres to the Col' sign and knew it was about seven percent all the way to the top so it would not be too tough. There were no mountain views as cloud was covering the tops, but there were lots of spectators sheltering under their umbrellas and shouting encouragement at the passing cyclists. From time to time I could see the cyclists winding up the mountainside above and below me.

I reached the Col, four minutes after the first cyclist and probably lost another minute trying to put on my raincoat. The top was covered in cloud and it was still raining heavily. Another cyclist shared the water that had been handed to him, and we began the chilly drop down towards La Clusaz. The first hairpin was a fast learning experience for me because visibility had yet again deteriorated, and I suddenly realised I was rapidly approaching a 180-degree turn. I pulled on the brakes and nothing happened. For a couple of seconds I was speeding towards the edge of a wet road and not slowing down due to the amount of moisture on the rims and brake blocks. I just made it around but gave myself a good scare in the process so I then took it a little easier on the descent.

By the time I started climbing to the 1618 metre Col de Colombiere, I was in a small group of ten cyclists that had formed just after La Clusaz. There was a small group a few hundred metres in front and another group the same distance behind us but I was content to stay with the riders around me as the speed felt fine. It was brisk pace but I felt I could sustain it to the top of the climb. The first few kilometres were a shallow gradient as we passed through the ski resort of Le Grand Bornand. It was only the last five kilometres where the climb steepened. Thankfully, it had stopped raining.

With three kilometres to the summit, the views were non-existent as we climbed back into the cloud. It was difficult to judge how far there was still left to climb but I knew that we had passed the 'five kilometres to the Col' sign a few minutes before. The Tour de France had included the Colombiere on the stage to Morzine in July and the names were still written on the road. I didn't stop at the top but just zipped up my rain cape as I crossed the summit.

The descent off the Col du Colombiere was very dangerous. It is steep and winds its way along the left-hand side of the valley, and I knew there was a big drop off to the right for the first kilometre. I couldn't see the valley below as it was cloudy but I knew the drop was there. I kept my sunglasses tucked in my jersey as the visibility was bad and I wanted the best view I could get. At least I knew that there wouldn't be a problem with flies getting in my eyes.

Two other cyclists were in just front of me and after about four kilometres I became aware that I had to get past them as we were loosing contact with our group. I passed them on a long straight but it was too late. The main group was around two hundred metres in front of me, and it found it very difficult to close the gap because I didn't want to take any risks on the corners. I passed a guy putting his bike in the back of a car, obviously not enjoying the weather.

The next climb started in the village of La Reposoir, halfway down the Colombiere, and after ten kilometres of descending from the Col. I had a couple of minutes of hard sprinting at the start of the climb to regain contact with the riders ahead.

The third climb of the Cote de Romme-sur-Cluses was steeper than the two previous Cols but only six kilometres in length. The group soon broke up and I found myself climbing alongside another cyclist at the front of the group. The mountainside was again shrouded in cloud so it was not possible to take any reference about how steep it would be or where we were climbing. The only reference point was passing a sign telling me that it was 50 kilometres to the finish. With a kilometre to the top, the gradient eased and the group reformed. I was determined to stay in closer contact on the final drop down to the valley, as I would then be able to take shelter in the group on the flat roads from Cluses to Sallanches.

The descent to Cluses was the most treacherous of the day. It had stopped raining, but the road was soaked and there were fallen leaves on many of the hairpins. The final three kilometres dropped steeply down a winding section of road with a cliff face on the right hand side of the road. It was an exciting experience taking the racing line between the quick succession of curves but I was also nervous at cycling at a high speed so close to the rock face.

The group of 14 reformed at the bottom and we passed through the back streets of Cluses and then joined the main road to Sallanches. I took the opportunity to remove my rain cape and eat my first solid food in the event. Many of the others in the group did the same and once everybody had eaten, we began to work together with every rider taking their turn at the front. The rain soon began to fall again until at the outskirts of Sallanches, it was raining heavily and I was getting completely drenched from the spray of the wheel in front.

There was a further five kilometres from Sallanches to the bottom of the last 500 metre vertical climb to Megeve. At the bottom, a marshal gave us a time check of 15 minutes behind the first riders. This was good news as I had only lost 11 minutes since the Col des Aravis.

The final climb was broken into two stages. The first would climb the Cote du Domancy. I had been to watch Laurent Jalabert win the final stage of the Dauphine Libere in June so I knew what to expect from the first half. It was 250 metres of vertical climb that was full of hairpins and steep. The second half climbed the main road from Sallanches to Megeve and climbed all the way to the finish in Megeve.

As the climb started, I removed my arm warmers and wrung them out before putting them in my back pocket. They had been pushed down around my wrists since joining the valley at Cluses and if I had dunked them in a bucket of water, they couldn't have been any wetter. I was completely soaked.

 

The fourteen riders soon split on the Cote du Domancy and by halfway I found myself climbing in fourth position. There were two riders about 30 metres in front and I was five metres behind the next rider. I kept my gearing low and my legs spinning in the 39-23, eventually changing to the 39-26 on the 12 percent sections. The rain was still hammering down and I found my back wheel was slipping on names that had been painted on the road. Each hairpin had its compliment of spectators and they urged me on as I passed them.

At the top of the Cote, I was now a hundred metres behind the group's two front riders and I had passed the third placed cyclist who was now 50 metres behind me. The police had stopped the traffic for the cyclists and I turned left onto the main road. The gradient immediately eased to around five percent for the final ten kilometres to the finish and I felt good. I was cycling alone here and aware that I was shouting to myself, telling myself I had the legs to get to the top and stay in front of riders behind.

Just before the five kilometres to the finish sign, I passed a cyclist who had shot past me on the Colombiere, and then another one just after the ski resort of Combloux. My legs were burning and I frequently checked behind to make sure nobody was catching me or sitting on my wheel. By the summit of the climb, I had closed back to within a hundred metres to the two riders in front, but just didn't have the 'legs' to bridge the final gap. There was a slight downhill for the final kilometre and I rolled over the line alone.

I had finished in 51st position in 3:41:22, 20 minutes behind the 19-year-old first placed rider. My average speed was just over 29 kph, which I was pleased with considering the atrocious conditions and my tentative descending. The weather had probably helped me as it was more like riding in the UK and I had enjoyed it. The event had been well marshalled and there had been hundreds of people by the roadside who were shouting encouragement, and that was great to see.

Of the 1,107 riders who had started the event, an impressive 972 finished, and every one, no doubt, having their own adventures over the wet 108 kilometres.

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