Back in 2003, carving his way up Alpe d’Huez, TORQ Fuelled Mike Cotty got his first taste of what was to become his mountain journey; watch the video and read the report of his recent re-visit to this Col.
If the truth be known I owe a lot to the rockstar ascent that is Alpe d’Huez, along with its equally impressive neighbours the Glandon and Galibier. Back in 2003 it was the lure of these legendary peaks that gave me my first real taste of the mountains as I nervously lined up for La Marmotte not really knowing what I was getting myself into. I remember rolling into Bourg d’Oisans and feeling my stomach summersaulting with fearful excitement at the gargantuan size of the mountains surrounding me. You could feel the energy they possessed, like the walls of a Roman amphitheatre staring down at a gladiator about to go into combat. I’ll never forget that moment, eventually carving my way up the 21 bends to the summit of Alpe d’Huez. We’ve come a long way since then but this is, and always will be, where the dream began. Peace
Start: Bourg d’Oisans
Length: 13.2km
Summit: 1,850m
Elevation gain: 1,108m
Average gradient: 8.1%
Max gradient: 13%
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