Day 7

Venosc (near Alpe d’Huez)

Distance:

37 miles (516 total) / 60 km (831 total)

Elevation gain:

5,046 feet (26,618 total) / 1,538 m (8,113 total)

No planned route

Actual route

Our first ‘rest’ day. Well, we are staying quite close to one of the most famous climbs in the world, and we didn’t need to take all of our stuff with us for a change! After getting up around 8 and eating a hearty breakfast the road descended for almost 9 miles before the great climb. It was tough, but after Col du Galibier, it was definitely achievable. The weather was good, not too hot and the clouds offered protection from the sun. The worst part of the climb was at the start, after that it eased off. As with the other big climbs, as long as we took it easy at the start we’d make it, and so it proved. An hour and a half later we reached the summit,  took some photos and went back down. A quick stop for some food and we returned to the chalet to rest (have some beer) before tomorrow’s ride.

Everything now should be easier, even the hills of Devon!