Tour d’Enfer Day 9 - Col d’Allos and Pra Loup
By Will • Jul 28th, 2008 • Category: 2008 Tour d'Enfer, Climbs, CyclingDay 9 of the Tour d’Enfer and Greg, Scott, Andrew, Andrew, Ralph, and Doreen and I decided to climb Col d’Allos.
Col d’Allos
Summit: 2,247 metres (7,370 feet)
The Climb: 21 kms (13 miles); Ascent: 1,130 metres (3,700 feet);
This is perhaps my favorite climb in the Alps. Not too hard, and much of the route goes along a little cliff road with ever improving views. We kept a lazy, social pace and just enjoyed ourselves on yet another beautiful day.
Below: Part way up - Scott and a great view of the cliff road well below.
At the top, home made pie and a coffee, and then I went to find Doreen who was only a little from the top. Another big climb for her collection.
At the top of the town is a great Wolf (loup) statue.
After descending towards Barcelonnette, I convinced the ever enthusiastic Ralph to ride up to Pra Loup ski station. Frankly, it’s a pretty boring climb on a lousy road.
In the 1975 Tour de France, the legendary Eddie Merckx cracked climbing Pra-Loup losing the stage and the Tour to French hero Bernard Thévenet.
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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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