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Out of interest has anyone ridden any of these climbs? They look horrific, but I'm keen to know what they are like for us mere mortals
TheArchitect-
I've ridden the Grand Colombier and the Mont du Chat. Both are hard, but a fit amateur rider can get up them without too much distress. They are steep by Alpine standards, and the surfaces are pretty rough. Because they aren't that high, they can get incredibly hot, although I think the forecast for tomorrow is cool and possibly wet.
Wouldn't want to have to race up them though.
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yes, Like @andyp the last 2 of today's sufferfest and indeed on a day with temperatures around 36 deg C. Mt du Chat is hard because of the last 5k not dipping below 10% avg... and they're not going up Grand Colombier from Culoz this time which is the 'easier' side, but from Brénaz, featuring a 3km stretch of bloody steep road as illustrated below
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Out of interest has anyone ridden any of these climbs?
I've ridden the 'easy' way up the Colombier (that's not the word I'd use, but the exposed nature of the climb + lots of sun was what made it brutal). The descents round there in the wet are definitely a bit hairy.
I did do the descent into Seyssel they're doing today actually. In the dry.
andyp
peter_v
Fox
27km of climbing at over 9% tomorrow. Everyone is going to be fucked