Day 3 – Route des Grandes Alpes – Termignon to Valloire
Today is described in the guidebooks as “moderate”. It’s fair to say we found it at the extreme edge of moderate, and not on the easy side! I suppose our decision to detour off the main road and follow a “scenic” route was at least partly to blame.
We returned to the main road at Modane, then followed the valley along a busy road to Saint Michelle de Maurienne, our starting point for the climb to the Col du Telegraphe. Although just 13 or so kilometres, it was the steepest we have yet done, many sections around 7 or even 8% incline. Our legs certainly felt it, and we appreciated the beers in the cafe at the col.
We are slightly alarmed at the climbing profile for tomorrow’s cycle. This will to the Col du Galibier and looks even steeper than today (on the picture it is the second set of ascents, the first set on the left are to the Col du Telegraphe). Let’s hope there is a friendly bar with cold beers waiting for us there!
It looks stunning and so peaceful. Good luck with tomorrow’s climb, think of how ski fit those legs will be!