Tour de France Col Telegraphe

Day 64 - 66/ France 49-51

Travelled: 12 July 135km to Valloire and back 700m from Col de Telegraphe (45.1962,6.4464) stayed again here on 13th July. 14 July 52km to Longchamp ski resort (45.4198, 6.3643)

We had our coffee and set off towards Valloire where we plan to find a spot to watch a couple of the stages of the Tour de France, as it was doubling back. 

As we left the valley to drive up to the col there were already plenty of motorhomes parked up along the road ready for the next day. At the service point in Valloire we were told it was very busy on the road up to the Col du Galibier so we decided to go back past the Col de Telegraphe and stopped at the first spot about 700m from the top.

It didn’t take long to be surrounded by vans and cars. We promptly got Bluey in the Aussie mood.

Consequently we got lots of Gdays from passing Australians. We encourage and praise the amateur riders going up the col! It a great effort. Some people are fascinated that we come all the way from Australia to watch the tour! All in all it’s a great atmosphere of happy like minded people and it’s all a bit of fun. One couple, Mark and Di called in for a chat. We spent the afternoon and later in the evening sharing travel stories and look forward to catching up with them we we get back to Oz as they don’t live far away. 

The next morning we walked up to have a look at the top of the col.

These guys had to pull down the archway as it was 10km in the wrong spot!

What an effort…

About 90mins before the riders get there, sponsor floats come by throwing stuff at you… hats, flags, bags, pencils, biscuits, lollies, keyrings , tshirts …. the list goes on. 

The team cars pass you by and police bikes and then the riders are on their way… then it’s all over in about 15mins max… 

Polka dot jersey..king of the mountain…S.Geschke

Australian Team ‘Bike Exchange Jayco’

Yellow jersey- T.Pogcar

Green Jersey- W.Van Aert

All our neighbours leave  bar one.. German man could speak no English and we speak no German but we still managed to have a laugh together.

We hope for a quieter sleep but the cars continue to pass well into night. 

The next morning we catch up again with Mark and Di. We then wait for the floats to give as some more paraphernalia. After an hour or so we walk up to the Col de Telegraphe to watch the riders come up the hill rather than wait for them to wiz past us on the downhill. It a fun atmosphere with music. 

As soon as they gone we venture back to Bluey, pack up and head back down into the valley and up to the Col de Madeleine as the weather is much cooler at 1500m alt. We stop 6 km short and park in Longchamp (2014).