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Alpe d’Huez

July 25 – Transfer to St Jean de Maurienne via Glandon and Croix de Fer

by Tim M August 24, 2009 France09

After a very tough drive down, we arrived in St Jean de Maurienne, which is the base of the start of the climbs of all the Grands Cols (Galibier, Croix de Fer, Iseran etc), see below. It’s not though, a very nice town. Very industrial, stuff shuts early. It’s probably worth staying up the road at St Michel de Maurienne, or even better, Bourg d’Oisons and attacking Glandon+Croix de Fer, Alpe D’Huez and Galibier from that side. I’ll get a google map mashup done which shows the best places to attack climbs from.

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July 24 – Alpe D’Huez

by Tim M August 22, 2009 France09

After an horrible sleep – humid, mosquitos – we woke again without pressure to get up a hill for Le Tour – a CRACKING Hautes Alpes day – no wind and stinging hot sun at 8AM – a nice change from the gale force winds experienced over the last 3 days. We spun into Le Bourg d’Oisons for coffee and a croissant avec confiture. For a really solid coffee check out the cafe opposite the Hotel de Milan.

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July 23 – High French Alps transit to Bourg d’Oisans

by Tim M August 20, 2009 France09

We headed off toward the Col d’Iseran (see below) as we were planning on getting to Bourg d’Oisans to attach the Alpe D’Huez and the only way to do that was over the cols in the wind (d’Iseran @ ~2600m or Telegraphe @ 1570m). Given the wind we could go all the way around into Italy near Bardonecchia or via Grenoble, both via very expensive tollways. We ended going via Italy which included an ~AUD$80 (€44) trip via the Tunnel de Frejus which passes for I think 31km under the Alps. It was hardly worth it as the traffic was horrendous at the toll booths. Most of the paying lanes were closed which pissed me off. What a waste. As it turns out, passing over the 1570m Col du Telegraphe would have been quicker and way more economical.

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