Cyclopaat, an alter ego with a twist
For today, we had a good weather forecast, so during our ride to, and while I was preparing to get on my bike in Villard-sur-Doron, it was raining.
But, by the time I was ready to go, the last drizzle had stopped, although it was still cloudy and chilly.
So I kept my long sleeved jersey on for a little while after starting the ascend of the Col du Pré.
Once the misery for that climb starts, at Arèches, I had to take it off quickly…
Exploring the climbs and passes for my Tour de France 2021, I’ve started with those in and close to our base camp, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
In an earlier post, I’ve covered (most of) the possibilities starting close to our doorstep, not requiring a car transfer before getting on my bike.
In this post, like in the previous, I’ll cover (some of) the possibilities a bit further away, which are still within reach, but for which I may opt for a car transfer before getting on my bike.
Today, I’ll turn my focus outside the north-eastern end of the Maurienne valley, past Albertville, into the Beaufort valley.
Post stage reports of my Tour de France 2014 – part 1, with Europe’s highest “natural” pass, the Iseran.
For my own Tour de France 2014, our first base camp was located in the Savoie, in a small village called Bellentre. This is less than 10 kilometers from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, almost opposite La Plagne.
After a smooth trip there, we settled in our apartment “Gîte les Grands Champs” around 13:00 – this gave me the opportunity to go out for a first ride, although it looked like it would rain.
And it did…
(Including a close encounter with the pros)
The climb up the Cormet de Roselend is also starting from Bourg Saint-Maurice and it’s definitely more challenging than the Bernard.
And it’s more traveled too, as it is the shortest route to Beaufort (I guess).
It offers some spectacular views while ascending and even more spectacular while descending from the summit towards Beaufort, past the lake.
However, it was quite cold and windy and the descent was not easy, or at least it wasn’t for me.
