Autumn tour to Alpe d'Huez text and photos Michael Ammann, Future Bike, Switzerland
This year's Future Bike tour led in a loop from Geneva over the legendary Alpe d'Huez and the Col d'Izoard in France, to Santuario di Oropa in Italy and back to Bellinzona. A friend led us through the French mountains, we crossed paths we had already driven on years ago and got to know the pitfalls of modern tires. It is warm in summer - a good start for the autumn tour. And so we roll through Geneva in a wild zigzag. Countless cycle paths and routes show us the way to places we don't want to go. Somehow we make it and end up on a gravel road in the middle of vineyards, which leads us across the green border to France. Lunch is served after a longer flat ascent on the sunny spot in front of a bakery. Afterwards the road leads us in a long rapid descent direction south. Later we follow the Lac du Bourget and overtake some electric bikers. Somewhere between the rock face, the railway line and the lake there is still room for the road. 2 km before the stage finish we take another break and watch the bustle at the lake. After we have erred through Aixles-Bains and finally found our hotel, we meet for an aperitif. The offered peanuts are razz fazz gone. It is time to satisfy our hunger. Despite a pleasant 20° Andi and Charly decide for a Savoy fondue.
On the way to Aix-les-Bains.
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The announced rain in the night is missing. After breakfast we chat with the hotel owner, who is interested in our recumbents. We don't get far, a flat tire at Charly forces us to stop. In Chambéry we get lost. It starts to rain, but before we find our way again, the spook is over. A short stop in the café, then we split up. One half drives comfortably along the valley of the Isère. The others look for the challenge in a small high valley. It goes through forests, small villages and extinct small ski resorts. We fight our way over the passes Col du Granier, Col du Cucheron, Col de Porte, then follow Col de Palaquit and Col de Vence. Sandro gets the mountain price on the last two passes. I can at least keep Charly in check. He then has another flat tire (#2) and so we wait in the forest and ponder why the leaves are still green. In Grenoble we have an aperitif. Elisabeth arrived by train and so we have dinner together. The thunderstorm which has moved over us in the night and flooded our bedrooms has moved on. At the station we meet Marc. He will accompany us for the next two days. And so he leads us out of the never-ending city in bright sunshine. We try to avoid the main road at the Château de Vizille
Snacks.
Sandro ascending to Alpe d'Huez. and so we land behind the castle wall on a forest path with several puddles of water that want to be avoided. Again on the main road the valley becomes narrower, the road rises with a few percent. In between a short rest. Coffee and sweet pastries with almonds or dates. Then shortly before noon Charly has another flat tire. “The afternoon is free! We meet again for dinner,” Sandro announces. What he hides from us: Dinner is served on the 1000 m higher Alpe d'Huez. 21 hairpin bends with an average of 7.9 percent have to be mastered. We leave together. Marc already leaves in the first hairpin bend. I follow by far. At curve 10 I take a short break until Sandro unlocks again. Down in the valley it's hot in front of the rock faces. With increasing altitude it becomes very cool. After half way up you can guess the destination of the stage. In front of the hotel we meet Marc, who is already showered and allows himself something to drink. We sit down, a little later the second half of the group arrives. With the sunset it becomes quiet in the village. The construction workers have gone home. The hotels are still closed. Everything is closed except our place and a single restaurant. We can choose: Raclette, Charbonnade or Vegipizza. The stars show us the way through the ghost village back to our hotel.
