Watching the Tour at Alpe D'Huez

desderrick123

I am going out to watch the tour at Alpe D'Huez this year. The comic talks about catching the stage twice, at top of Lautaret before they go over the Galibier then racing back down to get to Alpe D'Huez before the riders arrive there. Anyone know if it is possible to cycle up Alpe D'Huez on the day, and if so, how soon do they stop you before the race arrives.

ricadus

A safe alternative would be to descend from the Lauteret down as far as the big reservoir a couple of kms beyond La Grave, then take the back road to Alpe d'Huez from Mizoën that goes via the Col du Sarenne.

http://tinyurl.com/2qga7c


The view of the Mountains from there is worth the extra climbing:

http://www.gsoto.easynet.co.uk/fr_ride3a.htm


That said, riding up Alpe d'Huez on tour day is a special experience, especially the maniac Dutch corner that is always about 1/2 way up the climb. You should have enough time to ride up it following the race route if you are determined to do that, but once the publicity caravan comes through (an hour or so before the race) the gendarmes will be telling you to climb off your bike each time they see you riding.

I'd say you will be OK so long as you don't stop for lunch anywhere beforehand, but buy a race guide with the route times in it, as this will inform you of the expected times based on certain average speeds of the peloton (assume they are riding the fastest average, get there a couple of hours before to allow time for you to ride up the climb at a moderate sight-seeing pace and pick a spot -- you won't be climbing it at any fast speed because of all the spectators wandering about).

nottscobb

I like the idea of being able to ride up some of the mountain on race day. Although I am thinking of going for a couple of days and having a go at the whole climb the day before, is this a feasible option or will there still be too many people about?

Also, has anyone got any advice on the best way to get there and where to stay so we can take the bikes?

desderrick123

nottscobb wrote:

I like the idea of being able to ride up some of the mountain on race day. Although I am thinking of going for a couple of days and having a go at the whole climb the day before, is this a feasible option or will there still be too many people about?

Also, has anyone got any advice on the best way to get there and where to stay so we can take the bikes?

There is a good campsite at the foot of Alpe D'Huez, le Cascade, but I think that they are only taking bookings for 2 weeks as it's the middle of summer. There are a few other campsites around, check the net. BA fly in to Lyon, I've used that in the past about £15 extra for the bike, also used Easy jet into Geneva and they do fly in to Grenoble, but only on certain days.

celbianchi

i have been to D'Huez the last 2 times the tour has been up.

good advice above - however the Gendarme can change things on the day e.g. last year on the Galibier summit they closed the pass with more than 3 hours before the race came through as there was huge congestion. There were loads of us stuck on the lauteret side of the col. Luckilly once the caravanne passed through they re-opened it.

D'Huez is great on race day - even if you rode it to get your time the day before there are loads of people camping on the slopes, giving loads of encouragement and the Dutchmen by the church will have the sound system blaring.

Even on race day you can climb up it in the morning easilly enough until about the last 2km when the roads are swamped.

A quick descent of the lauteret as soon as the fin de la course wagon has been through would get you there in good time. I'd also recommend the back road up the Sarenne to be on the safe side, it is a beast of a climb if you go all the way to the top of D'huez. you don't have to go all the way to the top as you can come out on bend 16 or 17 about 4km up D'Huez.

We usually rent a gite in Allemont (about 350E for a week). Allemont is a great base and is 10km from Bourg D'Oisans.
If you get there a couple of days before the stage, on the Monday there is usually a TT up D'Huez which you cna enter in Bourg, if it is on so close to race day it would be greta as the crowds will be building for the race.

ricadus

celbianchi wrote:

you don't have to go all the way to the top as you can come out on bend 16 or 17 about 4km up D'Huez

That right, I'd forgotten about the route de la Roche, or whatever it is known as – basically it's a narrowish road that hugs the cliff about 1/3 the way from the main valley froor. It also begins at the Chambon reservoir (just below the dam) and if you follow it all the way it would eventually take you round to the village of Vaujany. Most people who have ridden it only do the part west of the AdH climb, that goes through the hamlet of Villard-Reculas. A great mountain road with spectacular views of the main valley, you should try and do the whole route on a different day to the tour stage as well, just so you can take time to enjoy the scenery.

Bikely info here : http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/La ... lpe-d-Huez

Photo of the kind of view you'd see: http://www.bike-oisans.com/cyclotourism ... s-154.html

celbianchi

ricadus wrote:

That right, I'd forgotten about the route de la Roche, or whatever it is known as – basically it's a narrowish road that hugs the cliff about 1/3 the way from the main valley froor.

It's a great road - the view over the Lauteret road is spectacular, with the height you get a real sense of perspective. Also a good view of the developing roundabout that they have built at the Lauteret/D'Huez junction. They are building a by-pass round BDO.

Just talking about it here is making me want to tick the days off until I am back there. It is a fantastic part of the world for a cyclist.

cougie

I'd probably spend the day on the Alpe to be honest so you dont get caught out - sometimes the road closures happen earlier than other years. Last time we were there - they closed the road early so that the French Paralympic Cycling team could ride up the Alpe. Which left us a couple of km down the road away from the hotel. We had to push the bikes up a gravel road to get back to the hotel.

Get there early, ride up the Alpe - take the ticket from the photographer so you can check out your style at the photo shop at the top and buy the photo. Buy a souvenir at the stalls maybe, and then descend the alpe til you find a good spec to watch from.

And come prepared - could be sunshine or it could be torrential rain ! Anything is possible.