Col d'Izoard
South Side
31.5 kms; 1,500 metres ascent; Start:
Guillestre Top: 2,360 metres
Last Climbed: July
2006
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Yikes. After climbing the Col de la Cayolle in the morning (60 kms there and back) I had an itch to climb the legendary South side of Izoard (Doreen and I both climbed the North side on Sunday. It is HARD (rated Hors Categorie) and my legs were bien cuit (cooked) after 6 big days in a row. But we were leaving the region so .... why not. The Tour climbed just over a week ago, so plenty of fresh road art.
I knew it would be painful and it was. I asked Doreen not to drive too far ahead as I might quit. But after an awful first 45 minutes I finally started to get a rhythm and did OK on the last very steep 7 kilometres (averaging +9% with short stretches much steeper). An antique car parade was descending, I could hear thunder as a storm threatened, and my legs were screaming. Net, very noisy. I would have quit without Doreen's constant cheering and support.
Monument to Cycling legends Bobet and Copi 2 kms from the top.
The famous Casse Déserte .. almost there!
Woohoo. Am I exhausted. But content. 2,360 metres (Almost 8,000 feet) up.
