Col de la Croix de Fer/Col du Galibier
(The Conclusion)

I stopped at a restaurant two switchbacks and 250 feet from the top, ostensibly to get water, but deep inside I knew it was to recover, if only for a few minutes. I also knew that later, after I had showered and rested and started feeling better, I would be second guessing this decision to stop so close to the summit. But at the moment I felt I had no choice. I hungrily gulped down my first substantive nourishment since St. Jean-du-Maurienne hours ago, and very reluctantly walked out of the cozy confines of the restaurant and back in the saddle. I hunkered down, and after a few more minutes of climbing, the road took one final sharp right turn, curved left and there, just ahead, I saw parked cars and people posing for photographs, and the road rose no more and at 8,680 feet, I finally reached the wind-swept summit of Col du Galibier.

(Above: 8,680-foot summit attained)

(Above and Below: Looking down the southern side)

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(Above: The descent down the south side of Galibier)

Although I was still 30 miles from Bourg d’Oisans, I was home free, as it is literally all downhill from Col du Galibier to Col du Lautaret 2,500 feet below, and then on to La Grave and a straight shot back where I started. Nothing restores a cyclist’s morale faster than an exhilarating descent—it was probably one of the fastest 30 miles I’ve ever done. But although the run back to Bourg d’Oisans from Col du Lautaret was very scenic, it has to be negotiated cautiously. The road was very busy with tourist motor traffic. To make things worse, there are those tunnels which, although better lit than the ones up at Col de la Croix de Fer, receive considerably more use, and consequently more dangerous for bicyclists. Still, as I pulled into the front of Hotel de Milan one hour later, the memory of my recent suffering had started to fade, already being overtaken with the inner sense of satisfaction from having completed, through the cycling highs and the cycling lows, one of the most beautiful and memorable rides I have ever done.

(Below: Views like this on the descent make any climb, no
matter how hard, worthwhile)

(Above: At Col de Lautaret)