Day 14 Sardonne to Ugine

A riding day - Lauteret, Galibier, Telegraphe

A smooth downhill few km to the main road running east between Grenoble and Briancon. A few cars on the way up to Lauteret, but no hold-ups. Lauteret is on the road east, a divide between the east and west valleys.












Galibier is just north of Lauteret, the D902 running through Valloire to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. We're above the treeline and there's evidence of landslides. At the cafe just before the top, there's a tunnel.
























I walked up to the top (2645 m); pushies were doing the lot, carrying their bikes over the bank of snow placed there to stop cars.





Spoke to a group of 6 from Yorkshire who come over every year and rent a villa, then do day-trips for a week.






We had to use the tunnel, and it was a pleasant glide down the north side of the ridge, much less snow to see.

From then on, nice riding to St Michel,



















then I chose the motorway; I was happy to pay $6 to avoid 70 km of local traffic along the valley to Albertville and Ugine.


















The part of Ugine I'm staying in is on a small plateau above the valley, and has an old core but lots of newish apartments, some poorly-built. Some very pretty areas.




















I'm sitting outside the Hotel du Bourg, in one of several irregular squares, enjoying the afternoon. Hope you are too.





Tomorrow 3 more French passes, then Switzerland.

Location:Ugine, france