Glandon, Madeleine and the Croix de Fer

Get Free Stuff

Alpe d'Huez being a thing of the past, and Froome having once again stamped his authority on the Tour, we were back on the bikes for an early ascent of the Col du Glandon. There had been had thoughts of going further to at least visit the lower slopes of the Col de la Madeleine (a monster climb that seemingly never features at the end of a stage, and has therefore never earned itself much of a reputation), but our week of riding thus far had taught us that this wasn't going to happen.

So at 9am we found ourselves on top of the first climb, 25km from home, particularly well positioned to collect the goods being distributed by the promotional caravan, and none the worse for wear when the Tour's law enforcement personnel brought any further progress to a halt.  The organisers of the tour have hit on a sure-fire way to draw spectators to the route (which clearly makes for better TV, and therefore a more highly marketable event) - about 2 hours before the peleton arrives the road is taken over by a float parade distributing hats and sweets and T-shirts and other paraphernalia. Having collected your bounty the roads are then sealed by the police until the Tour passes. Bingo - instant roadside crowds. :)

A small lead group containing TJ van Gaarderen climbed past us, then the peleton, and finally way out the back (especially for such an early point on the stage) number 199, the last rider in the tour by number and by position today cleared the climb and opened the road for us to continue riding.  Progress from here was particularly easy - 40km downhill to the town of St Jeanne de Muireanne and an already late lunch. Which is where the fun started.

The hazards of 5% body fat on Alpine Cols

The Col de la Croix Fer (Col of the Iron Cross) climbs 1500m over 29km from St Jeanne to its summit - and the rain started with 28km to go. It is a long and very scenic climb. the last 7km snaking up through the ski resort and painstakingly making their way over the col. We made our somewhat chilly summit at around 6pm after numerous showers, and shivered our way down the final 30km home within the hour and headed back to pack for Paris.