Col de la Colombiere
By Will • May 13th, 2007 • Category: Climbs, CyclingCol de la Colombiere is the closest “famous” climb to me - just over 30 minute drive away.
It was in the Tour last year and I will be cycling it again with a couple of friends on July 17th, in this year’s Tour de France.
Strangely, at the bottom it was signed as CLOSED - although I was pretty sure there would be no snow remaining. In the event, it meant less traffic on a beautiful Sunday - and there was just a little snow at the side of the road.
The last 3kms are very steep - my wife still curses the finish from a couple of years ago. A VERY strong head wind made today’s finish particularly daunting - this is the second time I have passed cyclists walking the last stretch here.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2008 Challenge is to (again) cycle 160,000 metres of vertical ascent.
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[…] Skal du sykle i området må du regne med noen opp- og nedoverbakker. Tour de France passer med gjevne mellomrom for å ‘lukke’ toppen Col de la Colombiere. […]
Just “rode” this pass last week (May 8, 2008) and had to walk through the snow and mud (skipping switchbacks) for the last 1500 meters. It’s still closed!