Stage 18 - Into the Alps
Embrun to Valloire
What a day for Tony! Certainly one of the hardest stages of Le Tour. 208km in the Alps with four categorised climbs and all the time gradually increasing in height above sea level. He starts off at about 800m up, tackles the category 3 climb, the Côte des Desmoiselles Coiffées early on, and bar a few hefty descents, just keeps climbing all day.
A third of the way in, comes the Col de Vars, a category 1 climb of 9.3km at 7.5%, which tops out at just over 2100m. From the descent Tony will head to the Col d'Izoard, an Hors Categorie climb of 14.1km at 7.3km, hitting 2350m and this is then followed by Col du Galibier, another Hors Categorie climb of 23km at 5.1%, the summit of which is 2600m above sea level. Thankfully, thereafter, it's all downhill into Valloire at 1400m above sea level.
Two interesting little cycling tidbits
A third of the way in, comes the Col de Vars, a category 1 climb of 9.3km at 7.5%, which tops out at just over 2100m. From the descent Tony will head to the Col d'Izoard, an Hors Categorie climb of 14.1km at 7.3km, hitting 2350m and this is then followed by Col du Galibier, another Hors Categorie climb of 23km at 5.1%, the summit of which is 2600m above sea level. Thankfully, thereafter, it's all downhill into Valloire at 1400m above sea level.
Two interesting little cycling tidbits
- At the summit of the Col d'Izoard there is a small cycling museum with a memorial to Fausto Coppi and Louison Bobet, two great cyclists from the war and post war periods.
- The Col du Galibier has also been climbed in the Giro d'Italia, appearing in the 2013 race.
Given we're in skiing territory drink of the day is the classic après ski vin chaud, better known to us as mulled wine.
Song of the day is Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin.
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