when I did 21, it was a very good Ride...

I felt a bit like a Pro in riding 2 of the most famous climbs of the french Grand Tour but with lower figures in terms of kilometers and verticals - but for sure hard enough. Starting from the hotel i needed to do a small loop in the valley to relax my legs a bit and get back to climbing mode. But then right away into the famous curvy road. The first ramp already lets you know that this is again a tricky one and the number 21 sign in the first switch back then reminds you about 20 more to come. On every plate you also find the name of a winner of the climb. As with the climb number 22 no signs were available anymore officials started again an the bottom - means on sign 21 - to write more than one. On #21 you find Fausto Coppi and Lance Armstrong.

Alpe d´Huez is one of the big ski areas in france but especially well known from Tour de France with it´s stage arrivals. 13,8 km, a climb of 1090m with an average of 7,9% with the higher ones up to 11,5% in the beginning. Record holder by far is Marco Pantani. Three of the best times came from him followed by Jan Ulrich and Andreas Klöden. Switch back by switch back i climbed up and the number shown on the signs went down. Sometimes you think you ride againts a wall in then recognising from the bottom the road cutting into the mountain from right to left, left to right , again and again. But this also opens a beautiful few into the valley just wondering how quick you´re reaching higher.

Getting closer to the last switch back you already see the huge ski Station with a lot of hotels - to be honest not very pretty, maybe in winter. The approach at the finish line itself is quite unspectacular and not to compare with Mt Ventoux.

From the Ski Station i went furtheron to Col du Sarenne. On the way there i was fascinated by the wonderful landscape and the possibility to ride this terrain with a road bike. Reaching Col du Sarenne you should take the time to walk up the little hill. From there you oversee the next valley and the area of the Massif des Ecrins at Les deux Alpes with La Meije or Pic Gaspard as the highest mountains.

A long downhill never ending is the prize of climbing before reaching out to Mizoen and a beautiful coloured resovoir lake named Lac du Chambon. A few more k´s down i decided not to take the main road but instead the high road built into the rock. But that ment also another climb which was already pretty hard for me. I just wanted to reach my base again. But as usual for every climb you get a prize which was again a great view down to Le Bourg-s Oisans. Hitting the Alpe d´Huez climb in switchback 16 resulted also in a nice descente back to the valley, again to ride through number 21 - the magic number combined with Alpe d´Huez.

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bike: Pretty Betty Specialized Tarmac S-Works

starring: Gerry Samer