Tour de France 2006: Through the Alps, in the tracks of the participants

To follow the Tour de France and particularly the hill-specialists, you have the choice between two possibilities: either you settle on the edges of the winding roads climbing towards the passes, and wait for the whole retinue of the Tour de France and profit, all day long, from the wonderful landscapes it goes through, or you settle comfortably in front of your TV, and then, leave a bit later to conquer the same passes, by car, by motorbike or even, for the most reckless, by cycle.

Some can be seen throughout the summer, braving Galibier, Izoard and all the great Alpine meeting points of the most famous cycle race in the world.

Six stages have been programmed in Rhône-Alpes this year, with lots of passes and impressive differences in height.
Between Gap and l'Alpe d'Huez, the oldest of the arrival resorts of high altitude, is one of the most impressive with its descent with twenty one bends. It is Armstrong, who last won fame in 2004, in the race against the clock. To reach it, runners must brave the Izoard pass (2 360 m) and the Lautaret pass (2 058 m) and must cover 187 kilometres.

Next day, departure from Bourg d'Oisans to reach Galibier at 2 645 m with the 8,8 kilometres ascension at 6,7% and the Croix de Fer pass and the one of Mollard covering 182 kilometres towards La Toussuire-Les Sybelles, for the first time in the Tour history.

 It is quite a new ski- able area, even though it is the birthplace of skiing in France. But it is a very sunny region; the mountain is wonderful in summer and not very crowded in all seasons.

Before leaving two days later, on July 21st from Morzine Avoriaz, the resort where Richard Virenque was honoured in 2003, runners will have to cover 199 kilometres with the climb and the descent of five passes. The one of the Saisies (1 650 m) in the Beaufortain, the one of the Aravis (1 498 m) which goes down to la Clusaz , along with the Colombière (1 618 m), Châtillon (735 m) and Joux-Plane (1 700 m) passes. Taking advantage in the meantime of the wonderful spectacle of nature!