We didn’t want to travel far – by car – today and the remaining “must do” require a long car transfer, so they will have to wait
That means no cols on the VeloViewer “Hot 100” list today, but I had my hands full with the ones I climbed close to Albertville.
Paula did drive me to Ugine, where my first climb started.
The Col de l’Arpettaz is one of those around here that have multiple alternatives.
This one is the longest, but every other left split reads “Col de l’Arpettaz” too…
The unpaved part is much worse than I expected – I guess I’m lucky I fitted 32 mm gravel tires on my Émonda.
But as bad as the unpaved section was, the descent along the Mont Desous alternative is a deathtrap.
I made it, but only just and my hands were cramped and numb from having to brake the whole 15 kilometers down…
I then cycled towards Saint-Ferréol for the Col du Marais, which we already travelled by car twice.
Probably the nicest climb I’ve had all week, as it doesn’t throw more than 7% at you and most of it is less 😎
I turned around in the village by the same name to tackle the Col de l’Épine. Why the summit marker is placed below the highest altitude reached is a mystery to me.
I then returned to Ugine for the Col de la Forclaz – I quickly discovered I had saved the best for last.
After taking a wrong turn in the descent and having lost Paula in the process – she can track my phone anyway – I cycled on to Albertville and then to the old city of Conflans, where we have our apartment.
Today’s cols make a nice route in the opposite direction, so maybe I’ll get to do that later.
Although, with summits below 1,000 meters, three of them will not make it to my “Been There, Done That” list…
Total for today: 100.12 kilometers and 2,463 meters of D+.
