Probably my last Grand Col this year. Well I'd not been that active either. The Glandon in freezing conditions at the end of May and then an abortive attempt at the Madeleine in August.

The Pre Long challenge. My rear tire is shredded and needs changing but I thought I'd give it one last outing on the Pre Long gravel.

I'd decided to come back this year but even with my x32 it is at the limit of what I can ride at the moment. The climb was ok temperature wise but just too dam steep now. 53 minutes from Montebuglio.

It has been like winter this May. Rain, snow, cold, wind. Not very inviting. Finally a break in the weather, a bit unexpected and I decided to ride the Croix de Fer or Glandon.

As there is little snow locally I decided to get the road bike out and go up the Col du Coq as far as I could before sunset.

DescriptionA long loop with a lot of vertical covering 4 cols. Starting at Ugine take the cycle path toward Annecy. After about 9km of false flat you cross a bridge over "la Chaise".

I parked up at la Grande Croix d'Aiguebelle. A hamlet at the entrance to the Maurienne valley. In the drought the river was dry but the fountain still worked.

I decided to ride home from the lac du Bourget this afternoon, but via the Relais du Mont du Chat and the col de l'Epine.

Second big col of the spring campaign. This time we drove to Beaufortain as Mike finds the Albertville road uninteresting and very busy. He's not wrong. We too the back road to Arêches.

I decided to start early 7h20 but could easily have started an hour earlier with the temperatures.