A ski around the fitness trail in Crolles because there was too much snow to go further afield. Not too bad on classic skis.

The Cormet d'Arêches are how Grand Tour cols used to be: nasty, long and brutish and the cherry on the cake, the top 6 to 7km are unsurfaced.

Note: this road is closed in the winter months. It is also poorly surfaced before the main Allevard road.This used to be a departmental road but has been abandoned to the elements for a dozen years.

Quite a good ride today. 47 minutes for the climb (VAM of 940 m/h) which is not too bad. Nice to be feeling on better form due to cycling a bit more.

The Croix de Chamrousse is the summit of the Chamrousse ski pistes at 2250 meters. It can be reached from the Recoin, la Roche Berenger or Casserousse at 1400 meters.

I'd spotted the Alpe Loccia while searching for new routes around lake Orta in Italy. According to the mountain bikers it is an uber steep climb with sections over 20%.

Usual mix of steep Italian ramps and bad roads. The surfaced road ends just after Cassano so this is just a little tour of the foothills. The Orta backcountry is not overly interesting.

I decided to enter the Toppidrettsveka - Virtual rollerski challenge.

Seriously, I'd vowed not to come back after last year but here I was, struggling up the first killer wall out of Monte Buglio cheered on by the usual assortment of deranged Italian cani.

I'd never cycled up to Scareno before and to be honest, there isn't much reason to. It is a long way up a big of a rough road.