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.
So, thanks to the ongoing pandemic and subsequent “no fly” policy in the family, I got another cycling adventure this year.
As we were going to France, I have obviously and as usual dubbed it “Tour de France 2021”.
While I did feel sorry for Paula’s not getting her well deserved sun vacation, I was also excited at the prospect of having another go at the giants of the French Alps.
I was thinking (again) to plan for the Pyrenees, but I eventually couldn’t withstand the temptation of a remake of part one of my Tour de France 2014.
That was way too short – not the tour, just the first part – to tackle everything that’s in that area.
So for the Tour de France 2021, we rented an apartment in Saint-Jean-de Maurienne, which is located at the base of the…
Anyone familiar with the Savoie area, will know that a bit further south, you’ll find Saint-Michel-de Maurienne, at the base of the Télégraphe / Galibier.
Or the fork to Valmeinier, which I did take on this time, unlike in 2014, when I didn’t have the time.
North of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, La Chambre is (near) the starting point for the climbs up the East end of the Glandon and the west end of the Madeleine.
Not to mention that in between those two, the Lacets de Montvernier seems to be a “must” and that (short) snake was a first for me.
I have dedicated several posts discussing the various alternatives and climbs starting at our doorstep (Col du Mollard, La Toussiere, Les Sybelles – too many) and further out.
That included a stage with the Iseran from Modane and a revisit some of the cols between Albertville (Beaufort), Moutiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Méribel and Courchevel were new to me in that area, but La Plagne, Les Arcs and the majestic Roselend were not.
The latter I eventually climbed from Beaufort, via the Col du Pré.
And yes, a Marmotte alternative was in the back of my head again too and if I did, I would get my 10th Alpe d’Huez ascend in the books 🙂
In the menu to the right of this page – or at the bottom, if you’re reading this on your smartphone – you’ll find links to everything you never wanted to know, but maybe will dream of doing yourself one day too.
Let’s just say that this Tour de France 2021 for sure did include a jubilee 10th ascend of the Alpe d’Huez 🎉
As I do most certainly not object to an opportunity to destroy myself in other areas than the Dolomites, I have no problem with organizing my own versions of the ‘Tour de France’.
Although my cycling heart belongs to the Dolomites, Paula is more charmed with the French part of the Alps, so sometimes you have to compromise 🙂
We planned a first trip there for the summer of 2010, but Paula ended up in the hospital on our day of departure, so those plans were put on ice until 2014.
In September 2017, July/August 2021 and July 2022, we went back for more of my ‘Tour de France’ adventures…
Cyclopaat’s life being what it is, this is yet another project dedicated to his idiotic cycling the Alps adventures.
On these pages, you will find info on the more ‘famous’ climbs he’s had the pleasure to die on himself.
Most of them were during his “Tour de France” or “Giro d’Italia” expeditions, but after having a Swiss Stage during 2015’s Giro, he also organized a “Tour de Suisse” in 2019.
The info you find on great sites like CyclingCols are often too generic – just profiles, which usually mean jack shit – to give you the whole picture.
The guys at The Col Collective provide great short movies on them, in which it looks even easier to climb a giant like the Bonette, than Cyclopaat can possibly make up writing about it, so they’re added if available.
Anyway, click on a link for the corresponding page or, if you rather have or like pictures you can click instead, go to the interactive map.
As I do most certainly not object to an opportunity to destroy myself in other areas than the Dolomites, I have no problem with organizing my own versions of the ‘Tour de France’.