Today was not the kind of day you’d pick to go out and cycle a bit.
For the first time, it was clouded, it was drizzling and rain was expected.
So, I got out anyway…
And I set out to cycle the Madeleine, the col that finished me off in 2021’s stage 12 clusterfuck.
However, I didn’t cycle a Marmotte yesterday and I didn’t exhaust myself in the murdering heat on Meribel before I tackled the Madeleine.
Yes, I’m well known for my legendary ability to learn from my mistakes 😎
Anyway, the pouring rain wasn’t much fun either, but it cleared up just past halfway (I think – it’s a long climb).
And sure enough, just when I thought I was doing fine and I would get to the summit unscathed, I cracked.
Not badly and certainly nothing like three years ago, but still.
We had a bite at the summit and I flipped a coin to decide which way to continue.
I descended the other end, to La Chambre, and we did our daily shopping in Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines.
After which I continued towards Albertville – just some 50 kilometers away.
Flat kilometers, so there is a way to rack up miles and no altimeters around here.
Total for today: 113.7 kilometers with 2,021 meters of D+.
Tomorrow, Semnoz to complete the VeloViewer “100 Greatest” list, Alpes du Nord section. Just 28 cols of them, actually.
