Col de l’Iseran 2,770 metres
Start Val d’Isere round trip 32 kms
Height gain 940 metres
Ride Date 4th August 2013
Making the expensive ski town of Val d’Isere the base for our ride up the Iseran. A cow fair was in full flow when we arrived with many stalls selling Cheese of course. We headed up the steep enclosed valley which reminded me of Glencoe. The gradient was fairly pleasant the roads clear just like the mountain air.
Views steeply down to Val d’Isere and the Lake behond. Ski lifts and markers couldn’t help but grab the attention. Quite unbelievable we are on a bike peddling past. High mountain scenery with barely any inhabitents a few Marmots shouting down the valleys and Buzzards above.
Barely any traffic and not that many cyclists passing by. Flowers giving colour to the wild mountainous scenery at a mere 8,000 feet I’m not surprised.
I wonder is the top just round this corner? It’s not far just another 3kms and the air is getting thinner. But the grandeur of this place makes it all a special place to be.
A few on the big flat top enjoying the view. A nifty little sports car posing for it’s photo.
A super freewheel back down and round the hairpins hearing the Marmots tooting and seeing the cute Donkeys.
Pink cycling 