Pierre Ruelle: Thonon Nice, the classic!
They-they crossed the Alps and they-they tell...
Would you like to introduce yourself?
Pierre 56, I'm the father of 4 wonderful children and regional manager in a press group. I've been a trailer/marathon runner for a very long time, cycling as a complement to my training or with friends.
Why an itinerant crossing of the Alps?
A friend of mine took the plunge three years ago and came back very enthusiastic. This project gradually became an XXL dream, with major doubts about my ability to overcome the difficulties. The plunge into the unknown also represented a motivation linked to excitement: could I string together mythical cols day after day?
Then I had an accident that affected my hearing 18 months ago, and it became important for me to complete this great crossing. I had a thousand and one good reasons not to take the plunge, so I bought my train ticket to Thonon-les-Bains and it became a reality...
What is your trifecta of passes? Why?
First the Col de la Cayolle for the reasons mentioned above, then the Galibier: many of us have already climbed it, but it's still a special pass before that switchback to the south and Briançon. Then I'd say the Iseran with its altitude, its sumptuous descent.
Each ascent reveals its personality and opens the key to a new valley, a new massif... it's this roaming principle that I loved, with each pass crossing a concretization of its progress.
A story to share?
The sky was very threatening on the Izoard climb. I hesitate to take refuge at the Napoléon refuge, 1 km from the summit, but I've set Guillestre as my stopover...I think it's going to hold and launch myself into the descent... The wind picks up, the sky turns completely black and transforms the mineral landscape of the deserted junkyard into an apocalyptic setting.
A big scare due to my carelessness, I absolutely have to get off. I take emergency refuge 30 seconds before the hail in a vacation village where a group of happy pensioners are having an aperitif, they've taken me for a madman!
They've taken me for a madman!