Day 1 update.
153km - 3,400m climbing Strava Link
Hard to believe it is only day 1.
A long day is what I will say, but not as long as for some people. 3,400m climbing over 153km. High but not super high, but the views were spectacular, when I looked up. From Lake Geneve it was 25km of neutralized riding, then once we crossed the border into France it was all go, and racing was on. To call it racing might be going a bit far, as more like fast tempo riding, as everyone knew a long way was in front of them. 3 named climbs, and a couple of others in there to keep you on you’re a game. Today we climbed Col De L’Encarenaz, then into the Col De Joux. I have never done a cloimb wjere you just dropped straight down, and went straight back up. A new test for the legs, but the scenery as we cloimbed up from the valley floor, through the pine forests and eventually above tree line was worth the climb. Big views out over Mt Blanc, and I even stopped to get a picture as it was just spectacular.
The kicker was at the end, the climb up to Megeve. A Nasty little 700m climb, made harder as we blew past the second to last aid station, so everyone in our group was a little dry by the time we hit the aid station. To add to the fun, there were a few steeper ramps, which I am sure were not in the road book.
Megeve is a very pretty, typically Alps village. Lots of walking streets, hard to find the hotel, as it always is, and nestled in the mountains.
Tomorrow, 111km, 3,500m climbing as we travel to Val D’Isere. The kicker tomorrow is a 1,000m climb up to Val D’Isere. I am not looking forward to that.
Update post briefing - we have been blessed as there are road works during the last 6 km up to Val D'Isere, so this will not be timed.