France 6 Sep, Albertville and attempt at Col de la Madeleine

The plan today was to do about a 58 mile loop. Starting at Saint Jean-de Mauriene, we would ride down the valley and around the corner to Albertville. Then up the valley to the start of the northwest climb to the Col de Madeleine. It is often used in the Tour de France.

A view back down the valley to Albertville. Note the valley is fairly flat and the climb very gradual. This is because the glaciers scooped out the valleys at least thousands of years ago. The steep climbs then branch off the valleys and go up narrow gorge-like valleys as we saw above in the Col de la Croix de Fer climb.

The Sign to the Col de La Madeleine. Note the Celliers sign.

This approach is actually averaging the whole way at about 7-8%. Not too bad because there are 3-4% areas and some up to 10%, but nothing more.

A view to the northwest, back down the valley, on the northwest side of the Col de Madeleine. The fun stopped just above this at Celliers. Climbed 16 km and got stopped by construction. No way to get through. Tried talking about walking, getting a ride from the workers, bribes. Nada. So we had to back track.

It was a great day for a ride. Got in 70 miles and 5,150 ft of climbing. I noted something that occurs not infrequently. Here is a somewhat delapidated farm house up on the hillside about 500 meters above the valley floor. BUT, three satellite discs. Must get a lot of channels and probably don't come down too much in the winter.

All in all we had good day.