Col du Mont Cenis (Day 4)

4th Stage: Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis - Torino

Excellent breakfast that compensate the yesterday scarcity. The Col du Mont Cenis today again, this time it is to get back home.

Col de L'Iseran (Day 3)

The accommodation in Aigueblanche was perfect up to the breakfast moment. I did not expect such a poor breakfast; the old lady didn't play too much attention to me and served me only tea and few bread and croissant. How could I start riding for a 50 km uphill with this breakfast? I asked for ham and cheese, she brought them to me but she was not happy at all, it looked like an unusual request. I asked for extra bread but I think it was too much for her and I did not ask any further. I had a second breakfast in Bourg St Maurice and the overall food was not bad.

The route from Aigueblanche to Aime and Bourg St Maurice is really strange because it looks like and highway, with bridges and tunnels but it has bike lane, very strange feeling, I felt safer there than in other narrow road actually.
From Bourg St Maurice a sign says 43 km to Col de l'Iseran that means more or less the same amount of uphill. Bon curage as the French says. The landscapes don’t miss here and the Lac du Chevril below Tignes offered beautiful blue colour to the mountains frame.

 

After an huge lunch in Val d'Isere I started the uphill towards the top, the last 17 km, the most impressive 2770 m of Col De L’Iseran. .

On the way up I met a really nice American cuboviaggiatore. I hope he doesn't mind I call him cuboviaggiatore, just joking, we had a nice and really pleasant chat. He is travelling with a Panda around Italy, big challenge!! (My old Panda will thank him). So please American friend stay in contact I would love post some picture of your trip.

The satisfaction on the top was great not possible to describe with words, maybe pictures can do it better. Long downhill toward Lanslevillard, where I had a pleasant evening with UK friends

GPS TRacking

Col de la Madeleine (Day 2)

The weather was beautiful and the breakfast abundant.

Starting with the long slow downhill up to St. Jean d Maurienne (actually La Chambre), nothing remarkable except for another strange kind of Cuboviaggiatore, travelling with donkey, great man!!! Never know, my bike sometimes is like a donkey as well ... maybe dependent on my legs.

Last minute. Maurienne tour (Day 1)

The Moncenisio uphill one of the longest I have never ridden. The Italian side unfortunately is not well maintained even if the landscape is wonderful. There are many buildings abandoned and nor easy to find a place where having food.

I found out only a snack bar which served me a sandwich with bread one day old. The lady tried to make it fresh again putting in the oven... we can discuss about the result.

Almost arrived on the top a strong wind put me in difficulties even to stand and keep bike balance, sometimes I had to walk and the temperature went down up to 9 degrees with even lower perception, but this is was not a problem with my full luggage with me.

What to say about the lake? Always fascinating place and a good subject for pictures.

The Moncenisio Lake with the italian side in the background

GPS Tracking

Complete Photo Album 

The giant of the Alps (Col De l'Iseran)

Bonneval sur l'Arc is the starting point for the south side of the Col de L'Iseran uphill, actually I started from Lanslevillard 30 kms away from the Col de L'Iseran top. Once arrived in in Bonneval I notice in the big welcome sign that it is twin town of Le Baux de Provence... I felt a cold sweat.