I was trying to find a flatter path to the Tower of the Dogs but ended up doing a series of small but steep climbs. I missed the road and looped round via the Corenc town hall on the Ch.

Climb to the Col de la Poya is just under 7km at 7.7% for a VAM of 650 m/h. Not too quick but it seemed very steep.

A bit of drone filming on the climb. VAM of 735m/h including a short stop was not bad. First time on this climb for 2024.

Quite a hard ride as I've cycled every day. The climb to St Mury from Lancey was at a VAM of 710m. 452 meters at 8%. The second half, 24 minutes were in zone 3 with the VAM at 734.

DescriptionFrom Omegna there is 420 meters of climbing over 6km giving an average grade of 7%. However the section from Germagno to the Alpe Colle is steeper, an average of 11% with ramps around 15%.

RouteNice little ride along the foothills of lake Orta to a monastry on top of a hill with lake views. The route passes through a few traditional Italian villages. There is a bar in Miasino.

Afternoon trip to recover my sunglasses left in a cafe in Orta. This gave me the opportunity to cycle around the headland of Orta then ride up to Armeno in the route I normally ride down.

It had been a while since I'd ridden to Quarna Sotto. The climb is a nice 8% gradient up a series of switchbacks on the flank of the mountain which I managed at around a VAM of 735m/h.

A little lunch ride with slightly uncertain weather. Climb to mont Cindre took 28m30 from the Ile de Barbe, a VAM of 621 for a 4.5% slope (although with quite a few ramps and flats). Not too bad.

They say to find your maximum heart rate you need to ride hard then go as hard as you can. Well nothing better than Mont Thou and the ramp in the village to do that.