2 Cols in one day. We will ride the famous Tour de France climb of Croix de Fer with the bonus of the Col du Glandon just a short deviation from Croix de Fer.
Col du Glandon and Croix de Fer With the tour heading further North, today you will have the option for adding two more Cols to your belt. We start our ride from the hotel and ride down another balcony road, before starting the climb to Col de la Croix de Fer. Just over half way up …
Col du Glandon and Croix de Fer
With the tour heading further North, today you will have the option for adding two more Cols to your belt. We start our ride from the hotel and ride down another balcony road, before starting the climb to Col de la Croix de Fer. Just over half way up the climb, we pass the incredible Lac du Grand Maison. There are even some downhill sections to let the legs recover (or does that mean we’re climbing on the way back?). The bonus is that near the summit of Croix de Fer is a second summit, Col du Glandon.
If your legs aren’t favouring two cols, you can take a short ride in the village before travelling on the gondola to the top of the world, Pic Blanc. The top station is over 3,300m and has wonderful views across the Alps.
After filling our camera with pictures, we’ll head back to our hotel and enjoy watching today’s picturesque stage on television from our hotel. This evening is our final night in the mountains before heading off to the city of lights tomorrow.
TODAY IN THE RACE
Stage 19: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Tignes, Mountain, 123 kmRiders reach the highest point of the tour on Col d’Iseran (2,770m) in today’s short, but dynamic stage. It will only be the second time that the Tour has climbed up this tougher southern side. We would expect the attacks to launch to the highest point of the tour. Time gaps will eventuate at the summit finish to the ski village in Tignes.