Thoughts on the first climb of the tour: this is wayyyyy harder than I thought and I thought it was going to be hard…
Each major climb has road signs notating how many kilometers you have left, the elevation, and how steep this km of the climb is.
You can can hear a cow-cophony of cow bells, moos, and your heavy breathing as you suffer up the climb.
Stay in your lane, cow…
My friend coming up around the bend…
Almost there!
Trek Travel lunch at the top of the summit. (photo: trek travel)
If you don’t get a photo with the summit sign, it didn’t happen!
Heading back towards Lourdes.
Had some time in the evening to check out the Rosary Basilica in the city of Lourdes.
The door is open for my confession….
I need a Lourdes miracle to get me up these climbs!
On the road to Tourmalet. (photo: trek travel)
A long ways to go…
Let’s take a breath and enjoy the scenery.
You sure that gondola isn’t working?
The pavement looks the same everywhere, so it’s important to take breaks and enjoy the views.
3K to go…
The van was just around the corner, and our guide was blasting “Don’t Stop Believing” and ringing a cow bell to help me up the last kilometer. (photo: trek travel)
Somehow made it to the top of this mountain. Awkwardly holding the statues hand…I need to work on my summit poses. (photo: trek travel)
“Turn around, look at what you just did!”
Heading up the second climb of the day…
I wanted to hop in the van after Tourmalet, but my friend convinced me to push towards Aspin. I made it just in time before the hail came down…(photo: trek travel)
Dem clouds don’t look good…
It started to pour, so our Trek Travel guides shuttled us down to the hotel.
Asked for the local beer…it was an IPA :’(
Dinner at the hotel restaurant was so good!
They even had mini jams for breakfast!
After a 7 hour bus transfer, I opted to take a rest day. Next up, the Giant of Provance, Mont Ventoux. (photo: trek travel)
Feeling strong today :)
On the road to Mont Ventoux.
In 2009, eventual tour winner Alberto Contador sealed his victory on this climb.
In 2016, eventual tour winner Chris Froome was knocked off his bicycle due to a collision with a motor bike. The neutral service bike didn’t fit him, so he started running up that hill…
In 1967, British rider Tom Simpson fell off his bike 1km from the summit of Mont Ventoux. He got back on and rode 500 meters before having to be held upright by spectators. He was taken to a hospital by helicopter and died. This is a memorial where he collapsed.
Legends are made in these mountains, and the rich history of the climbs help motivate you up them.
Boom!
Mont Ventoux has been known to be particularly brutal due to the lack of shade and high winds. Luckily it wasn’t windy on the day we climbed it.
The tower that loomed over the whole ride.
Descending down where I had so much fun I blew past our lunch spot and had to climb an additional 2km back.
After a 3-4 hour bus transfer, let’s ride the toughest day! Cool!
Ahhh, the lovely site of the Trek Travel van!
Pole pose.
Do you remember doing this as a kid? Quack! Quack! (photo: trek travel)
Now onto Galibier…
All the major climbs have these convenient trash bins on the side of the road for you to toss your gel, snack, and other food wrappers into.
Fromage this way!
This ride was so hard, but so beautiful.
It is one of the highest road passes in the Alps, and often the highest point featured on the Tour de France.
I took so long the avid riders caught up with me! (photo: trek travel)
Heyyyyooo, yes, hi I’m, here! I made it! (photo: trek travel)
Count it!
On top the summit of Galibier. Our guides not only fill our water bottles, maintain our bikes, encourage and take care of us, but they also take pretty awesome photos. (photo: trek travel)
View from our hotel patio.
Water from the glacier…
France just won their World Cup semi-final game, so we were celebrating!
Cheers to a pretty tough (35 miles, 6500 ft) and epic day. (photo: trek travel)
In the morning before our “recovery” ride. (photo: trek travel)
Yes, a 40 mile, 3600ft recovery ride.
In front of the polka dot bike of course!
Trek Travel rest stop. Hey! Let’s take our picture in front of the circus because that’s what this feels like. Rawr!
Hello!
We were able to take a more relaxed pace and really soak in the views.
The roads in France are soooooooo nice.
We will be down there shortly!
almost to Italy…need coffee…
Am I in France? Or am I in Italy? (This is the border.)
Coffee in Italy! Actually my friend got this and I got an affogato (not pictured here). My as well eat some ice cream with espresso, the van was shuttling us back! :)
Signs letting the locals know that the roads will be closed during the Tour de France!
The start of a very difficult climb.
Great shot from the Trek Travel guides. We love the blue van!
After a long 10% section and some 15% sections, I wanted to cry when I saw 3.9%
I wasn’t sure if it said 10 or 0!? After I learned the hardest part was at the beginning (and therefore over), I made sure to give it all until the summit.
Yay!
We were also “training with” the pro Fortuneo team.
There was a short descent down and then an easy 200 meter climb to grab another Col.
Wall sit! I know I should sit lower but I just biked for like 4 hours…
Vanna White! (trying to get creative here)
The other side of the summit.
Heading back the way we came.
The shuttle would be waiting for us by the dam, and it sure was a welcome sight :)
The tour would come through here a few days later.
From the dam we were shuttled up to the hotel, where we would start the next day’s ride.
Starting from our hotel at the top of Alp d’Huez, we went up the Col de Sarrene and then descended back down into Bourse d’oisans to start the traditional Alp d’Huez climb.
(photo: trek travel)
(photo: trek travel)
(photo: trek travel)
Made it! And now for the descent…
The start of the descent was steep and technical, but one of the most beautiful descents of the entire trip.
Back into the city where the climb starts. The Trek Travel van was there for us to refuel on drinks and snacks. This would be the final climb of our trip.
This is still here.
Up one of the many switchbacks.
I believe this was switchback 16, where you can get a pretty sweet view of all the road you’ve covered so far.
Instead of notating km, the signs in Alp’ dHuez notate which switchback you are on. This is #7, the Dutch Corner!
Switchback! Trek Travel Van!
Our fantastic Trek Travel guides surprised us with a champagne shower to celebrate the completion of our tour.
View from our hotel. Time to say goodbye and hop on a bus to Grenoble.