In the trail of Le Tour de France, pt. 2

People owning racing bikes often wonder whether it's as hard to ascend mountain slopes by bicycle like everybody always claims to be.
I can tell you, it is.

This journal narrates of a short cycling trip in the area of Alpe d'Huez, September 2000.

La Tour de France is a stage race that roughly circles France. Contestants see themselves facing more than 2,000 miles of cycling divided in 21 stages. Traditionally the stages vary from flatland to mountainous regions. France is flanked by the Alps in the South East and the Pyrennees in the South.

Alp d'Huez is known as the final mountain to be climbed in one of the Alp stages as the mountain is a dead end.

Especially for the Dutch Alp d'Huez brings special feelings come to life. Over the years several Dutch cyclists have won this stage.

Dutch recreative cyclists like me have always regarded those mountains to be a challenge. But, when the professionals cover 5 mountains in one single stage, we can barely manage one.

Quick Tips:

Physicists always say you have to cover a certain amount of miles before you're ready to try the steep mountain slopes. This is true to certain extent.

Cycling mountainous regions demands mental stamina. It's very hard, and conditions may not always be favorable.

Keep in mind that descending on a bike is dangerous. Be careful not to go too fast.

Best Way To Get Around:

Getting there:
Car is preferable
Being there:
A bicycle of course.

The campingsite is pretty basic. But showers (with hot water), lavatories, a swimming pool, and a cascade falling from a steep cliff next to the camping. (visible and audible)

A supermaket is within walking distance (5 min.)

The village 5 minutes cycling.

The valley is very narrow. Be prepared for a lot of shade.

The sole purpose for staying here is cycling all the nearby mountains.

It's horrible.

The distance from Camping La Cascade to the start of the slope measures no more than a mere 100 meters. So, when you leave the camping your muscles won't have time to warm up before braving the steep mountain road.

After turning left it climbs right from the start with a grade of 10%. After a turn right this percentage increases.

The middle part of the climb doesn't exceed 8%, but after you have passed the church halfway, the show really begins.

12% average is no exception. The worst part is that you are able to see the finishline from below with still 6 miles to go.

It must have been noon when I climbed on my bicycle and left La Cascade.

I crossed the bridge right before the beginning of the 14 km. mountain road that leads towards ski resort l'Alpe d'Huez.


The roads des not gradually increase its grade: right from the very first meter it ascends with a 10% grade.

At that time it suited me well. it was still nippy in the narrow valley as the sun barely peeked over the mountainridge on the other side of the valley. Barely 500 meters furthers I was steaming.

After approximately four kilometers I gained up on my boss, who had left half an hour before me. I admire him for managing to 'climb' mountains with his combination of excessive bodyweight and lack of excercise.

After a short chat I continued and decided to have lunch halfway next to a church that looks out over the valley. And indeed the spot offers a great view.
There, my twin brother and my friend Erik overtook me and I only saw them again at the finishline, some 6 miles further.

I got on my bike again only to notice the grades were only increasing. I could see the ski resort. This gives you the feelings that you're almost there, but quite not the case.
It was still oh so very far! When you have reached the outskirts of the ski resort there is still a good amount of kilometers to go. It's the spot where, in the Tour de France, most spectators will be cheering their heroes, packing the road and blocking a clear path for the cyclists.

This, of cuorse did not happen to me. The grades, at this part measure 10 % - 12 %, and is in my opinion the hardest part of Alpe d'Huez.

Finally I made it, fifteen minutes behind my twinbrother and my friend. I was pretty contented with my achievement as I am a smoker.

Erik and I decided to go to the very summit a couple of miles further up. At this point one leaves the ski resort and starts cycling between (at this time of year) greenish meadows. The slopes relentlessly 'bit' into my calfs, and after an additional five miles we gave up. Initially we were searching for a sign telling us the altitude of Alpe d'Huez. Let's keep it at approximately 1,900 meters.

We went for coffee in the resort and later my boss joined us. After our coffee we decided to get back to Le Bourg.
The drill most often looks like this: I will be descending with smoking brakes. I am not that courageous. The others will plummit themselves downhill.

Sometimes I get my point, but this time to painful shame of Erik. He crashed near Le Bourg and broke his collarbone.

Mountain cycling is dangerous!