MARMOTTON

Nothing such as a defi to push yourself! This time, not less than 3 passes of the Tour de France; The col de la Croix de Fer, Telegraphe and Galibier (170 km with 4'000 meters denivellation). I participated several times to the Marmotte, a wellknown cyclosportif race that climbs the three passes and the Alpe-d'Huez. I wanted to show this to Nathalie. As it is to difficult for Nathalie on her own, the tandem was our only chance!

    Friday the 30th of July, we went to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne at the bottom of all these famous passes. We arrived just before night and had a pasta diner (rice for Nathalie) to fill ourself up with energy for the great day coming!
    After a good night, the alarm ringed at 6h30. Wake up! It's time to conquest the summits. After a short breakfast, we took our tandem and cycle up the vallee to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. A climbing flat portion that warmed us up. Then a right turn and the Telegraphe begins. A 13 km climb that we did fast (easy!). Then a little descent to Valloire and the col du Galibier starts. The first part wasn't that steep, but it's getting harder and harder. We put our smallest gear that we will almost not leave until the summit. The last 5 kilometers are terrible. I suffered from the lack of oxygen at that altitide. Thinking of Pantani in 98, he did the last km at around 20 km/h!?! We also thought about Ullrich seeing Pantani fly away! After 18 km, we finally reached te summit! Great! But why did they build a road here? Probably for the Tour de France and some motorcyclists.
    At the summit of the Galibier (2'648m) we were the attraction. Everybody came to us to talk to us. After a little rest, we decided to go down on the other side, which condamned us to climb the Croix de Fer.
    The descent was great! 50 km almost without pedalling. In Bourg d'Oisan we bought some food in a shop and take our meal along the road. There we met a lot of cyclist going up the Alp d'Huez (most are dutch; it's their mountain!?)
    The col de la Croix de Fer (2'068) was our last climb! But it was really a hard one. The slope is not constant. some portion are even desceding, but the average slope on some sections reaches 10% average on 4 km. The weather was getting worse and we finished the 31 km climb under the rain.
    The descent was very dangerous and required all our attention! After passing the tunnels without lights and the first steep part, it got a little more easier. After a 9h ride, we finally arrived. It was time for a good meal, some wine and a great great rest!
 

col du Télégraphe 1'566 m
col du Galibier 2'646 m