Col du Glandon (and Croix de Fer)

By Will on August 22, 2009 French Alps

This weekend is our 12th wedding anniversary. As a gift, Doreen offered me car support on the hors categorie climb of my choice – bum pushes, water bottle service, photographer, etc. And she even chalked messages all over the road for me.

A really fun day. Col du Glandon is a favourite of mine. Especially the last 2 crazy kilometres (see photo above).

I was truly spoiled today, with all of Doreen’s support. Psychologically not having to carry two full bottles (along with the guy a couple of hundreds metres behind me) meant that I worked very hard.

Doreen snapped photos and cheered me on the whole way …. and she kept surprising me with chalked messages (it’s my college nickname):

After Glandon, it’s just two and a half easy kilometres up to Col de la Croix de Fer – and the end of a fun uphill time trial.

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Will

Happiest while cycling uphill.

12 Comments

Doreen on August 22, 2009 9:48 pm

Well done, Chilly! As said, I was really impressed with your effort & speed.

What with doing my painting and getting the camera ready, I was kept busy the whole time and it seemed I never had to wait…just a few seconds and there you came, storming around the next bend! Ok, ok…I know it’s a ridiculous statement but honestly I felt really busy!!

You’re my cycling god.

Love, Doreen

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Martin on August 22, 2009 10:17 pm

Well done – both of you! Happy anniversary.

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Pete on August 23, 2009 1:49 am

Will, Very Nice! What are you getting her?
Pete

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PhilippeF on August 23, 2009 3:12 pm

Quelles “noces de soie” !!
bravo Will pour cette montée, les photos donnent vraiment envie, malgré la difficulté…

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Bastien on August 23, 2009 11:10 pm

Beau col HC; félicitations au modèle mais aussi à la photographe, “caméraman”, ravitailleuse, graffiteuse, supportrice et j’en oublie certainement… et bon anniversaire !

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Eric on August 24, 2009 3:19 pm

As a married man myself I know that 12 years of marriage is a great performance (I’m not there yet) and that there is no way back anymore (why would you guys anyway???). Maybe you should re-name “cycling challenge” into “marriage challenge” 😉 Will, celebrating this with the support of Doreen on top of Glandon/Croix de Fer must have been the pefect day. You 2 are sweet together!
Eric

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Will on August 24, 2009 8:46 pm

Merci les gars!

Pete – my wife’s gift involved relaxation and spas – vs climbing mountains 😉

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Les on August 26, 2009 2:51 am

Will: With your name now etched on the road I believe this officially elevates your status to a cycling legend! I hopefully can check on the art work next week.

Overall, another great edition to a fabulous website!

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John on June 20, 2015 4:51 am

I just wanted to let you know I did it a few days ago but from Barrage de Verney (Allemont) side. Climbbybike has it graded as 4.8% average but this includes in calculation three downhill sections in the climb – one of them 12% down for a short section

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- Will on June 20, 2015 10:39 am
  
  Well done. Ha, yes, the average grade is meaningless. That is a VERY tough climb you did.
  
  Here is link to profile
  
  https://cycling-challenge.com/images/glanw700.jpeg
  
  here is link to a post discussing all 5 ways up Croix de Fer:
  
  https://www.cycling-challenge.com/col-de-la-croix-de-fer-5-routes/
  
  Reply