Alpe d'Huez

On Monday July 15, Dad and I hopped on a bus for a 3 1/2 hr. trip from Geneva to Alpe d'Huez.  We chose to sit up front so we had a nice view.  As we started to get closer, there were road signs announcing the upcoming race.  

The Alpe d'Huez is one of the most famous mountain stages of the Tour de France.  While the route changes every year,  a climb up Alpe d'Huez is almost always part of the race itinerary.  The ride from bottom to top is only 8 miles but it is pretty steep and includes 21 hairpin turns.  Each of the hairpins are marked with signs counting down to the top.  The ride up was a bit unnerving especially given the size of the bus versus the road.  However, it was also super exciting to be on the mountain after seeing it on TV for so many years.  Even though the race wouldn't come through for a few days, there were already signs hung on the rock walls, messages on the road and plenty of cars, campers and vans along the route staking their claim for prime viewing spots.  

Towards the top the view became more wide open and absolutely breathtaking.

We were staying in l'Hermitage hotel, located at the top of Alpe d'Huez (the rectangle hotel in the picture below).  The location couldn't have been any better and Dad and I had a fantastic corner room on the top floor.

From our room we had 180 degree views of the mountains and could even see along the race route.  Breakfast and dinner was included in the tour package which was nice not having to think about it.  Generally the food was good (except for lamb night!) and there was also a bar in the hotel where you could watch the day's stage on TV and enjoy a pint after a ride.

On Tuesday, Dad and I headed out early to pick up his rental bike (I had brought mine with me).  Since the day was clear we decided to take the gondola up to the top of Pic Blanc.

Later in the day, we went for a short ride, around the last hairpin...

and then on to the finish.  

Since I hadn't been on a bike in years I was a little nervous about going too far down the mountain since there were only two ways to cycle - up or down.  A flat surface was impossible to find.  So instead we just repeated the loop to the finish line a few times.  It felt great to be out cycling in the fresh air and in such a beautiful and historic (at least from a biking perspective) place.