Wow. WOW. All I can say is Wow !

The scene halfway up the climb to Tignes
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Today was a short but incredibly intense ride. Starting from Bourg-Ste-Maurice, we were required to ride up the 15km Category 1 climb to Montee d’Hauteville. After a short descent, we then started the steep 18km ascent to the ski station at Tignes at an altitude of 2086m. In total we would be riding only 55km but 1900 vertical metres during that time. That’s sea level to top of Treble Cone ski field folks !

Staying in the mountains means that rain is a constant companion as the weather rolls around these large and forbiding mountains. We started the first climb and it started drizzling straight away but apart from obscuring the view, was not that unpleasant. First climb was quite a good one (relatively speaking) as the gradient was consistent and road surface was good allowing a nice steady rhythm. Descent was not nearly as nice with narrow, cracked, wet, steep roads all the way down so the boys took it very easy. We reached the bottom and immediately starting climbing the valley towards the famous ski resort of Val D’Isere. The road here is quite steep but the scenery is stunning. After 9km we turned off to start the ascent to the ski resort of Tignes. You know you are cycling on a high road when the road goes under some ski chairlifts! Halfway up and a large dam and accompanying lake comes into view complementing the absolutely stunning mountain scenery and waterfalls. Looking around, all you can say is wow. We continued up and up finally reaching the summit of the climb amidst a large ski town literally sitting near the top of a mountain. Amazing. Quite a buzz to do two Cat 1 climbs back to back and boys in high spirits after it.

Halfway up and a large dam and accompanying lake comes into view complementing the absolutely stunning mountain scenery and waterfalls.

Andy conquering the mountain
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We then headed back to campervan and drove up to look at Val D’Isere which was a ghost town at this time of year. Unfortunately we saw another Ferme sign on the next mountain pass we were scheduled to climb so will have to reassess our route and go around it. Val D’Isere to Briancon will have to wait for another year.