I’ve dreamed of doing this gigantic climb for a long time. With 1900 metres of ascent it’s easily the biggest single un-interrupted climb I have done in France.

This should be one of the best stages in the 2008 Tour.

What a trip.  Our most ambitious cycling vacation ever.  Our first visit to the Southern French Alps.  Eight big climbs in 8 days. Every one a legendary Tour de France route.  Hard work but really fun.   it was a  dream of mine to climb Bonette (the highest road in Europe) and Izoard (scene of [...]

For a more recent post with map and details of both sides of Izoard, see here. 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 [...]

Another stunning ride in the South Alps. 29 kms 1,200 metres vertical. The beginning of this ride is pretty flat while the mountains get bigger. In other words it is deep in a river gorge along a tiny road.  The route rides along a cliff beside a river for about 15 kilometres then turns south [...]

5th big climb in five days as our Southern Alps adventure continues.  This may be the most scenic Col we have ever ridden. Starting from Barcelonnette in the South Alps this little sinuous road climbs along side a cliff high above a steep canyon and then hairpins over the mountain towards the mediterranean 100kms away.  [...]

COL DE LA BONETTE: Col de la Bonette is the highest Tour de France Col (pass) as it is the highest paved road in France. The road signs claim to be the highest road in Europe, although there are certainly competing claims elsewhere. 24kms.  1,600 metres vertical.  The top is at 2,802 metres (well over [...]

As we head south to Barcelonnette, the Col de Vars is a perfect climb to break up the drive. 20 kmilometres.  1,150 metres vertical.  A beautiful winding route, although there is a little bit of traffic as it is part of the Grandes Route des Alpes and one of the only roads crossing this section [...]

As Doreen keeps pointing out: the name of the climb sounds a little like "It’s So Hard".  Yep. 20 kilometres.  1,200 metres vertical (4,000 feet).    This is truly a legendary climb and one of the main objectives of this trip.  The good thing about cycling up mountains is it is a great way to [...]