Plans are afoot for another dose of the French Alps. More cols to climb just for the hell of it. And they can be a bit hellish. Look at any strava for any of these cols and I'll be right there - at the bottom posting impossibly slow times in my fight with the tarmac. So how hellish were the hellish-er of the hellish?
Bear in mind these have been completed uopn steel framed bikes with 15kg of stuff lashed to the back.
Here's my list so far in order of me getting to them, plus a few specs and the Climb By Bike ranking for French cols:
Col du Lautaret: 2058m west 34km from Bourg D'Oisans; east 28km av 3.8%; high 7.5% rank 309
This one popped my cherry. Took it from the west. The road is usually busy down the week so the weekend is better but the traffic still is a bind. Good views especially at La Grave. A few tunnels. Of the French Alpine cols over 2000m this is probably the easiest. Sets you up nicely for the Galibier.
Col de Vars North 2168m 22km from Guillestre; av 5.5%; high 9.9% rank 379
The fabled D902. Quite tough, and necessary to do to get to La Bonette. Occasionally pretty. The ugly Les Claux ski resort reminded me of the equally La Mongie on the Tourmalet. Good downhill and great views going south.
Col de la Bonette 2715m north 24km from Jausiers; av 6.9%; high 13% rank 48
That high could well be the instep of a hairpin. There are stretches of 9-10% and so this Col is tough as well as high. It has soul destroying facets such as the intermediate Col de Restefonde that you reach only to enter a vast bowl, edged by high ridges, with seemingly no way out. The final kms are in a chilly moonscape that harbours stubborn snow drifts. Like any col you have to be prepared for a sudden turn of bad weather and this is one place you don't want to get caught out.
Col de Petite St.Bernard 2188m 31km from Bourg St Maurice av 4% high 7% rank 289
Magnificent set of hairpins takes you up towards Italy. The heat of the day is interrupted by the glacial waters passing under the occasional bridge.
Col de la Madelaine 1993m 25km from La Lachere 20km from La Chambre; av 6.2% high 11-12%. rank 42
Underrated stunning toughie. It possesses a heartbreaking downhill section followed by a steepening finale. Not much in the way of watering holes. In revisiting this on the Internet I discovered the Col du Chaussy, an alternative to the D213. Great views and worth its high ranking.
Col du Glandon north 1924m 21k south 24k av 6.9% high 12% rank 73
If you were tough as old boots you could do the Madeleine and Glandon in one day. And like the Madeleine, it has a killer last few k where the 12% faces you like a wall, sort of. Great views and a great, testing ride.
Col d'Ornon 1373m 12km from D1091 av 5.8% high 7%-ish rank 889!
If you have never done a col before - this would be a good start. A straightforward, consistent up-then-down.
Col de Bayard 1246m From Gap 8km av 6.8% high 10.3% rank 995!
A few tricks up this low col's sleeve. Packs a lot into a short climb. Beware.
Col du Télégraphe 1566m North 12km av 7.3% high <10% rank 399
This is a bit of an odd col as it forms part fo the Col de Galibier in effect. You do a short descent into Valloire before rejoining the fight and go up the Galibier. This is not a spectacular col but a very pretty one, with a good deal of the climb in forest. The peak, perched on a sheer face, has breathtaking views back across the Arc's valley.
Col de Galibier 2646m ?km av ? high 12/13% rank 111
All you can ask of a big climb: hairpins,great views, challenging gradients, barren moonscapes, good cafe at the top, and an exhilarating descent. If you do it from the north, you will not get the full climb from St. Michel-de-Maurienne as one stat with Strava due to the descent form the Télégraphe into Valloire. The Soulor on the Aubisque has the same intermediate role. As far as I was concerned, the climb was from St Michel, not Valloire. On the other hand, for loaded touring bikes the Télégraphe/Galibier combo was the closest I am likely to get to two cols in one day!
Col d'Izoard 2344m From Briancon 19km av 5.8% high <10% rank 240
I am surprised at this mid table ranking as the last 7km are a relentless 8%, which is quite sapping. Very good on the eye, with big valleys, rocky outcrops and the general alpine vibe. The descent is one of the best with stretches of meandering over shallow gradients allowing tops speeds of 50mph-ish.
Col d Agnel 2744m North 20km av 6.6% high <10% rank 87
This is way out on the border with Italy and a hike to get to but worth it, though you will end up in Italy! This is up there at 8th in the top ten of the highest passes in Europe. However four of the seven above it are dead ends and the Bonette has built an extension. So, after quite justifiable adjustments, it rises to 3rd highest behind the Iserean and Stelvio. And boy, does it go on. The true climb is from Guillestre - a massive 42 km. Again it has all the elements of a great climb and you can throw in thinning oxygen in too.
What's next...to be updated.
