Col de la Forclaz - and Cycling Graffiti
By Will • Jan 8th, 2008 • Category: Climbs, Cycling
I talked about this great loop around Lake Annecy on my recent Top 5 Lake Annecy Rides post. The road was a bit slick today and there was the occasional ice patch in the shade, but generally it was fine for a road bike.
This is a fantastic climb - short but VERY steep - leading to great views of Lake Annecy.
It’s the first climb I ever watched the Tour de France on (stage 17 in 2004 - won by Armstrong). It was also the last climb in last year’s Dauphiné Liberé - won by Christophe Moreau.
One of the fun parts of riding in the Alps is reading the cycling graffiti on the roads. Sometimes it’s real art. Before big races fans are often all over the route with huge paint rollers creating messages to their favorite rider. The Dutch and Germans seem particularly addicted to painting the roads.
Today’s route still has remnants of the 2004 Tour de France Graffiti - including several artistic polka dot tributes to French hero Richard Virenque. The beginning of the route used to have a big “Launch Lance” in yellow - but its finally worn away.
I saw this new creation today. It says “UCI - Dealer - Moreau Vache - Velo = Dopé.” (Vache means cow. UCI is the International Cycling federation. Velo means bike)
It’s probably left over from the 2007 Dauphiné.
Here’s a couple of old photos of me and Tour de France grafitti and a photo I took of Moreau, Virenque and Simoni climbing today’s climb (Forclaz) back in the 2004 Tour de France.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2009 Challenge is to cycle a 100 Cols (mountain passes) and lose a couple of pounds.
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Nice one! Are the photos in the top row from today? Hearing about your big ride today, I feel v. glad that I went for a run this afternoon. Did you feel strong? Jelly
Well done running today.
yes the photos up top (3 through 6) are all from today.
I felt “fairly good” - tried to remind myself to enjoy the views during the steep parts ….
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Hi Will
Just stumbled on your site. Good luck with your challenge. Given me food for thought. I’ll be 50 in April and am setting own goals though don’t have time or energy to keep to your schedule. I’ll definitely include the col de la Forclaz though! Enjoy those views!
Rory
G’day Will,
Thanks for your post regarding Col de Forlaz; I spent a week in the Summer at Montin and climbed this Col a number of times I agree short but steep and a great climb. I too loved reading the road graffti the one that I use on my computer’s desk top is GRAVITY S*CKS which is found just as you leave Montmin on the short down hill and then acend the last climb to Forclaz. Great site and we must met one day would love to tackle some of the classic climbs with you.
All the best
Simon
Hi there.
I love Annecy, I’ve been there a few times and the cycling around there is wonderful. The Col De le Forclaz is a beast of a climb and I rate it harder than the Alpe D’Huez. I think the Col de Leschaux, I think that’s it’s name (it climbs out of Annecy past the hospital) is pretty hard too, not steep but it sure drags on. I once got the hunger knock near the top and had a terrible time reaching the summit and an even worse time coming down and trying to find the strength from somewhere to keep applying the brakes. Happy days
I can’t wait to go back there, maybe this summer. (2008) Thanks for the nostalgia rush I got from reading your posts.
Hi Will,
I was looking for ideas about rides around Annecy’s lake and i found this track on bikemap.net. I have never done it yet but i will later next week i guess.
What is funny is that i have noticed that you live in the same town as me : Neydens. My house is near Pernin, do you see where it is ?
Thanks for your blog and all those photos !