Col de L'Iseran

[Rasher]

Yeah you are right, we got stuck last year because of a cycle race.

We had a cycle event on the telegraph in 2011, the road was closed near the top, luckily it was almost lunch time so we took a nice long lunch at the Cafe there and did not have to wait much longer for it all to open.

The problems were not over as there were bikes everywhere, often coming at you six abreast using both sides of the road paying no attention to a GS and GTR coming back at them

Plus the organisers had some check point or end point near the top of the Lauteret and had parked almost blocking the top of the pass, a couple of cars had met and chaos ensued, the GS clutch was starting to smell really bad and I thought my old mate Ron was going to lose it and re-ignite the 100 years war.

Then it pissed down just once we got some clear roads, all the way down to the bottom and up the Galibier which was cold, wet and covered in fog, although I would still rather ride that road in those conditions than any of the roads within 50 miles of my house on a nice day.

 

[Sooty09]

Glad its not only me with the cycle race problems. One reason for my dislike of them is the verbal abuse I got in a pass from Solden to Italy on an open road race. I thought I was riding like a motorcycling god only to find dozens of fairly good cyclist passing me on the down hills. Ok I thought, they know the road and are so light. Next came the medic outriders on BMWs, again they must know the road thought I. The final straw was the two up riders on big bikes with the rear camera man sitting on a platform behind the rear wheel, that's when I realised I'm only an average rider.
Each to their own sport, I do respect any person who can cycle those Alpine passes, in competition or purely for leisure.

 

[Grums3]

You will be fine. Done it the past 4 years always last week June first week July. Some days in the sun some in the cloud and mist and some in the pissing rain but you will be prepared for that if you are on any trip to RDGA. Remember to ride it in both directions. Take your own coke if you don't want to shell out €5 for "un coca sil vous plait" at the cafe. Enjoy

Yeah we have been here the last few years. But watch out for the tar strips in the road that use use to fill in the cracks. They can be very slippy in the wet.

 

[Sooty09]

You may find this web site useful for planning the passes,

www.alpineroads.com

The Col de L'Iseran is in the Savoi region.

 

[sven]

July 2007 on the (long) way home from the Pyrenees via Millau and the Vercors

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk HD

 

[PaulW]

Glad its not only me with the cycle race problems. One reason for my dislike of them is the verbal abuse I got in a pass from Solden to Italy on an open road race. I thought I was riding like a motorcycling god only to find dozens of fairly good cyclist passing me on the down hills. Ok I thought, they know the road and are so light. Next came the medic outriders on BMWs, again they must know the road thought I. The final straw was the two up riders on big bikes with the rear camera man sitting on a platform behind the rear wheel, that's when I realised I'm only an average rider.
Each to their own sport, I do respect any person who can cycle those Alpine passes, in competition or purely for leisure.

I love it (only coz that could well be me)