Day 11 Les Dix Alpes Stage 7 Bourg d'Oisans - Briancon (Huez/Sarenne/Lautaret)

Bourg d'Oisans from halfway up Alpe d'Huez

nearing the final switchbacks (there are 21..)

cloudy and light rain at the top of the climb to Alpe d'Huez

Notre-Dame des Neiges approx halfway up the Alpe

wildflowers

town of Huez

TDF finish line

Col de Sarenne

heading to Col de Sarenne (dog walking on the side of road)

view of Gorge de Sarenne looking back towards the village of Alpe D'Huez

Gorge de Sarenne

"Allez! Allez!"

National Park sign at entrance to Vallee de Ferrand near top of Col de Sarenne

road leading down the valley (very rough!)

Vallee de Ferrand

old stone house constructed against rock

following another cyclist from a touring group through Clavans le Bas

lunch stop at La Grave

view from lunch stop

Phil Kalafatis - "King of Beach Road!"

mountains above La Grave

cattle in meadows heading towards Col du Lautaret (their bells can be heard as you ride through the valleys)

nice colour scheme - but not my size...

Alpe d'Huez and Col de Sarenne profile

John MacDonnell and Alan Bristow lend a welcome hand to mend my flat on Lautaret descent

Weather overcast and raining lightly, but I decided to head up Alpe D'Huez anyway en route to Briancon, one of the highest towns in the alps. A scenic feast including high alpine passes and dramatic gorges. Three others in the LDA riders took this route. There was more climbing than the alternatice route chosen by the others due to the poor weather outlook. Their route involved descending to La Garde and following the Vierge de la Garde along the side of the valley above Bourg d'Oisans - also a breathtaking view.The Sarenne Pass is quite remote. The scenery is like Isengard and you expect to see the Orcs jump out from behind the rocks. I descended through the Vallee du Ferrand, a National Park, through Clavans. Lunch at La Grave and a speedy descent from Col du Lautaret to the campground at Briancon included a pinch flat at 60khp! Garmin connect link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188384800

YouTube link here