They-they crossed the Alps and they-they tell...
Cyril, can you introduce yourself?
I'm Cyril PLIQUET, Burgundian by birth and Haut-Savoyard at heart, father of 2 wonderful daughters aged 16 and 20.
Why an itinerant crossing of the Alps?
On the occasion of my 50th birthday, I decided to give myself a great gift: time!
Time to live in the moment, time to smell and feel, time to observe nature, time to chat with people, time to simply live.
A small, initiatory and introspective journey on a bike, equipped with a few pieces of luggage and 2 water cans.
Which route did you choose?
Quite simply Annecy-Nice in 6 stages ( skipped the first stage of the official route starting from Thonon)
Stage 1: Annecy-Bourg Saint Maurice / 106 km and D+ 1930m
Stage 2: Bourg Saint Maurice-Modane / 115 km and D+ 2650 m
Stage 3: Modane-Briançon / 87 km and D+ 2100 m
Stage 4: Briançon-Barcelonnette / 104 km and D+ 2600 m
Stage 5: Barcelonnette-Valdeblore / 127 km and D+ 3350 m
Stage 6: Valdeblore-Nice / 136 km and D+ 2730 m
TOTAL: 675 km and D+15400m
How did you organize your trip?
I had in mind to do a week-long trip on my own this summer, but I'm not at all fond of planning and preparing my trips...
A friend who made the crossing at the end of June with some girlfriends inspired me to do the same thing, but solo and unassisted.
In good shape but still lacking in bike training, I decided around July 24 that I would leave from August 2 to 7...and then I did a short daily training session for 1 week, bought a light luggage kit (saddle / frame / handlebars) 5 days before leaving.
I only booked a room for the arrival in Bourg St Maurice, nothing more: I wanted to keep total freedom, and the possibility to adapt my itinerary in case of difficulties or weather problems.
What is your trifecta of passes and why?
Col du Galibier: on Wednesday, I rode the Telegraphe and the Galibier in the rain. I loved this pretty resort of Valloire, and enjoyed the scenery every kilometer until the finish at the top of the pass.
Col de l'Iseran: the drive up the road from Bourg to Val d'Isère was long and bland, but the winding climb from Val up to the Col de l'Iseran was so beautiful and enjoyable!
Col de Turini : very nice climb through the forest, I discovered when I got to the pass that I was going to discover the famous MonteCarlo rally laces on the descent to Menton, it was great to cycle them after climbing this mythical pass.
What's your best and worst memory?
The best: that magnificent, lunar landscape as you tip over into the valley at the Col de l'Izoard.
The worst: the 10km Jausiers-Barcelonnette section! Grazed by big trucks 5 or 6 times, it was very scary!
An anecdote?
Stage 5 / Valdeblore. After an unsuccessful search for accommodation, I arrived at Valdeblore at 18:30 (the hardest stage!) without having made a reservation...everything was full 20km away...a fully booked gîte kindly accepted me and offered to put a mattress in the dining room. In the end, a convivial dinner with a group of 12 people: the nicest evening of this trip!