@cyclingalps.bsky.social
I like cycling. www.cycling-challenge.com
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Updated: 100 Cycling Climbs Better Than Alpe d’Huez
I believe many cyclo-tourists do themselves a huge disservice by prioritising Alpe d’Huez above many far, far more interesting roads.
www.cycling-challenge.com
An American friend sent me an email about how excited he is to make plans to visit France and cycle Alpe d'Huez. I responded by sending him "100 Cycling Climbs Better than Alpe d'Huez." - www.cycling-challenge.com/100-cycling-... #cycling
Reposted
//INRNG: 2026 Tour de France route stage-by-stage guide inrng.com/2025/10/2026...
October 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
//INRNG: 2026 Tour de France route stage-by-stage guide inrng.com/2025/10/2026...
A pot of gold currently at Col de la Croisette! Note: The Mont Salève cliff face (left side of photo) was climbed by the Frankenstein monster in Mary Shelley’s 1818 book.
October 22, 2025 at 3:20 PM
A pot of gold currently at Col de la Croisette! Note: The Mont Salève cliff face (left side of photo) was climbed by the Frankenstein monster in Mary Shelley’s 1818 book.
October 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Marco Pantani monuments. 1. Colle Fauniera summit. 2. Col du Galibier north side. 3. Mortirolo 11th hairpin.
September 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Marco Pantani monuments. 1. Colle Fauniera summit. 2. Col du Galibier north side. 3. Mortirolo 11th hairpin.
Bob Marley wisdom:
"If you get down & you quarrel everyday
You're saying prayers to the devils, I say
Why not help one another on the way?
Make it much easier, yeah, yeah (just a little bit easier)
Say you just can't live that negative way
If you know what I mean
Make way for the positive day"
"If you get down & you quarrel everyday
You're saying prayers to the devils, I say
Why not help one another on the way?
Make it much easier, yeah, yeah (just a little bit easier)
Say you just can't live that negative way
If you know what I mean
Make way for the positive day"
September 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Bob Marley wisdom:
"If you get down & you quarrel everyday
You're saying prayers to the devils, I say
Why not help one another on the way?
Make it much easier, yeah, yeah (just a little bit easier)
Say you just can't live that negative way
If you know what I mean
Make way for the positive day"
"If you get down & you quarrel everyday
You're saying prayers to the devils, I say
Why not help one another on the way?
Make it much easier, yeah, yeah (just a little bit easier)
Say you just can't live that negative way
If you know what I mean
Make way for the positive day"
One of the fun things about the finish & the Portes du Soleil linked ski stations: One can ski in France and Switzerland -crossing the border up high on skis (no passport required) :-)
12 stations: 3 in Switzerland, 9 in France including Morzine, Avoriaz (above Morzine) and the finish town Châtel.
12 stations: 3 in Switzerland, 9 in France including Morzine, Avoriaz (above Morzine) and the finish town Châtel.
August 3, 2025 at 4:01 PM
One of the fun things about the finish & the Portes du Soleil linked ski stations: One can ski in France and Switzerland -crossing the border up high on skis (no passport required) :-)
12 stations: 3 in Switzerland, 9 in France including Morzine, Avoriaz (above Morzine) and the finish town Châtel.
12 stations: 3 in Switzerland, 9 in France including Morzine, Avoriaz (above Morzine) and the finish town Châtel.
Final climb. It's been quite a few years since I cycled Col du Corbier. Memories: Nice hairpins near summit (forget which side), I saw a Chamoix once, and it can be ridden in a fun 6 col loop (lots unpaved).
August 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Final climb. It's been quite a few years since I cycled Col du Corbier. Memories: Nice hairpins near summit (forget which side), I saw a Chamoix once, and it can be ridden in a fun 6 col loop (lots unpaved).
I cannot believe how quickly they just descended that big climb. Wow
August 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I cannot believe how quickly they just descended that big climb. Wow
Why truly gigantic crowds at that one spot? Clearly they let people use the chairlift. Smart.
August 3, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Why truly gigantic crowds at that one spot? Clearly they let people use the chairlift. Smart.
AfterJoux Plane the route is briefly quite flat until Col du Ranfolly, then the FAST descent begins. in 2015 there was a small landslide just below Ranfolly that kept the road closed for a long time. Great for cyclists as passable, but impossible for cars.
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
AfterJoux Plane the route is briefly quite flat until Col du Ranfolly, then the FAST descent begins. in 2015 there was a small landslide just below Ranfolly that kept the road closed for a long time. Great for cyclists as passable, but impossible for cars.
Col de Joux Plane. Joux = local word -> forested mountain region. Plane = relatively flat area.
The road summit is 1691m. Sign claims 1700m. Geographic col is at 1715m roughly 1/2 km away. 1st photo is at Geographic col. Flat area is the tiny lake, and road is left to right at building.
The road summit is 1691m. Sign claims 1700m. Geographic col is at 1715m roughly 1/2 km away. 1st photo is at Geographic col. Flat area is the tiny lake, and road is left to right at building.
August 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Col de Joux Plane. Joux = local word -> forested mountain region. Plane = relatively flat area.
The road summit is 1691m. Sign claims 1700m. Geographic col is at 1715m roughly 1/2 km away. 1st photo is at Geographic col. Flat area is the tiny lake, and road is left to right at building.
The road summit is 1691m. Sign claims 1700m. Geographic col is at 1715m roughly 1/2 km away. 1st photo is at Geographic col. Flat area is the tiny lake, and road is left to right at building.
A quick French lesson. As the peloton passes Samoëns.
In French, the umlaut accent (two dots over a letter) generally just means that you should pronounce both syllables separately/distinctly . Think Noël.
So SAM-Ō-EN = Samoëns
In French, the umlaut accent (two dots over a letter) generally just means that you should pronounce both syllables separately/distinctly . Think Noël.
So SAM-Ō-EN = Samoëns
August 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
A quick French lesson. As the peloton passes Samoëns.
In French, the umlaut accent (two dots over a letter) generally just means that you should pronounce both syllables separately/distinctly . Think Noël.
So SAM-Ō-EN = Samoëns
In French, the umlaut accent (two dots over a letter) generally just means that you should pronounce both syllables separately/distinctly . Think Noël.
So SAM-Ō-EN = Samoëns
At Samoëns, the start of today's big climb to Col de Joux Plane, begins another huge climb perhaps even more difficult to Samoëns 1600 (Plateau des Saix).
August 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
At Samoëns, the start of today's big climb to Col de Joux Plane, begins another huge climb perhaps even more difficult to Samoëns 1600 (Plateau des Saix).
At bottom of this descent is the Chartreuse de Melan a 13th century Carthusian monastery. Beside it is the greatest bench I have ever sat upon. #tdff
August 3, 2025 at 2:21 PM
At bottom of this descent is the Chartreuse de Melan a 13th century Carthusian monastery. Beside it is the greatest bench I have ever sat upon. #tdff
A fun cliff stretch in a moment. Let's see helicopter shots plz
August 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A fun cliff stretch in a moment. Let's see helicopter shots plz
I forget exactly where, but this sign is somewhere around the first climb .....
August 3, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I forget exactly where, but this sign is somewhere around the first climb .....
The bottom of this descent to the start of first climb goes through the Arve valley. Often has some of the worst air quality in France. Combination of industry, a major auto route, and tightly enclosed by high mountains.
August 3, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The bottom of this descent to the start of first climb goes through the Arve valley. Often has some of the worst air quality in France. Combination of industry, a major auto route, and tightly enclosed by high mountains.
This descent to start the racejust passed Route Bernard Hinault - Domancy - they could easily descend this instead of main road. Bad route planning (?)
August 3, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This descent to start the racejust passed Route Bernard Hinault - Domancy - they could easily descend this instead of main road. Bad route planning (?)
Tour de France Femmes film trivia: The start town Megève (a slightly posh ski station). Audrey Hepburn meets Cary Grant here in the 1963 film Charade! (yes I am old) #tdff
August 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Tour de France Femmes film trivia: The start town Megève (a slightly posh ski station). Audrey Hepburn meets Cary Grant here in the 1963 film Charade! (yes I am old) #tdff
At the start of the 1st climb "côte Arâches-la-Frasse" in today's Tour de France Femmes stage they will pass the 1st photo as this is the start of the amazing 21 km climb to Col de Pierre Carrée - the high paved col in Haute Savoie. Unfortunately, the stage turns left after 6 kms instead of right
August 3, 2025 at 12:39 PM
At the start of the 1st climb "côte Arâches-la-Frasse" in today's Tour de France Femmes stage they will pass the 1st photo as this is the start of the amazing 21 km climb to Col de Pierre Carrée - the high paved col in Haute Savoie. Unfortunately, the stage turns left after 6 kms instead of right
Today's Tour de France Femmes route is a beauty. Feauturing the amazing Col de Joux Plane. Unfortunately, it's another col that lies about its altitude. It is in fact 1691 metres ---- not 1700 metres.
August 3, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Today's Tour de France Femmes route is a beauty. Feauturing the amazing Col de Joux Plane. Unfortunately, it's another col that lies about its altitude. It is in fact 1691 metres ---- not 1700 metres.
I watched the 2010 Tour de France atop Madeleine and hung out with this fella:
August 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I watched the 2010 Tour de France atop Madeleine and hung out with this fella: