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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
This is a tour to bring back the moments of euphoria of the Tour de France and fill your saddlebags with souvenirs! No one has ever beaten Marco Pantani’s impressive record of 37’35" up the steep, winding road to Alpe-d’Huez, followed by Lance Armstrong with 39’41" in 2004 (Lance Armstrong’s average speed in 2004 was 23.4 km/h). This road with its famous 21 hairpin bends which starts in Bourg-d’Oisans has an incline of 7.9 percent over a total length of 13.8 km. The first bit is very hard, with some passages of 12 percent incline. Make sure you save your energy on those first 2 to 3 kilometres. From Huez, 6 km from your arrival, it will be easier to maintain your rhythm.
From Bourg-d’Oisans follow the road towards Briançon, cross the river Romanche, turn left and follow the D211. Here you are, now you are entering the legend, now it’s your turn to play a part! In summer, the Tourist Information Offices of Alpe-d’Huez and Bourg d’Oisans organise cycling competitions for the steep climb up this road every week. That little bit further : You may wish to continue the road up to Lake Besson (another 5.5 km and an extra 250 m difference in height).
The success of this stage of the Tour de France
The "road up to Alpe", as it is affectionately called, has become a cyclists’ sanctuary. It is unique and magical for its itinerary and its hairpin bends, each of which has a name and a number, and when the Tour de France passes by, its hillsides are all packed with spectators. On the very day of the Tour, both sides of the road are flanked with crowds along its 14 km. In 2004, there were even as many as 500,000 to 1 million visitors on this "legendary" hillside. Within one day, the climb up to Alpe became the world’s most spectacular event, with campers parked bumper to bumper on the crowded embankments, tents pitched in the most unlikely places, its routes coloured with bright slashes of paint saying things like: "Virenque Champion", "US Postal to the top", "Magali, will you marry me?"
The road is "redecorated" for each passing of the Tour de France, this year at a cost of 14,443,000 euros, but nothing is too "beautiful" for the Tour de France...and then in Alpe, there is a tinkling celebration where the happy, cheering crowds, all dressed in bright colours, sometimes a little bit disquieting, though, are
the "Queen of the Tour".
The ride to Alpe-d’Huez has become a real legend!
"Cycling is a constant lesson in humility." Louison Bobet
