Ferme = Closed

French for Do Not Go There
see all photos »

Le Grand Bornand to Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Today we were scheduled to ride the first half of stage 8 of Tour de France 2007. Stage 8 was a beast. Starting in Le Grand Bornand, it had a Category 4, a Cat 3 and a Cat 2 climb in the first 60km before ascending to the plateau at Beaufort north of Albertville. Then it required the climbing of the towering Category 1, Cormet de Roselend pass which is 1967m at the peak. Then it descends into Bourg-Ste-Maurice before heading up the valley towards Val d’Isere and climbing two more Category 1 climbs to finish in the ski station of Tignes. Being mere (undrugged) mortals, we were going to attempt the first half to Bourg-Ste-Maurice and do the last two Cat 1 climbs tomorrow.

Being avid F1 fans, our French extended to the understanding that Ferme = Closed.

Day was proceeding well as Andy and I got over the first three climbs in good shape and descended rapidly on stunning descent off Col de Tamie into Albertville. Then while trying to determine whether we were on the right road, we passed a sign which read “Cormet de Roselend; Acces Bourg-Ste Maurice; Ferme.” Being avid F1 fans, our French extended to the understanding that Ferme = Closed. Bugger. We thus determined we had to ride around the long way through Moutiers and up the valley to our destination. Simply stunning riding up the valley with steep wooded mountain sides towering over the valley but the continuous climbing started to grate on our nerves. Even passing the city of love (literally a town called Aime), failed to muster much of a smile. Finally, a bit wearily we made the resort town of Bourg-Ste-Maurice and attempted to empty a Coke dispensing machine to redhydrate. Totals for day; 121km in 5 hrs 12 min averaging 23.2 kph, total 1148km.

Unfortunately the Closed sign was not an isolated one and two more passes we were due to go over, the Col D’Iseran and Col de Galibier are also closed. Apparently they rarely open before mid June so we will need to rejuggle our schedule a bit.