Geneva Nice 2019 Riding into the Sky! - Col des Aravis, Col de la Madeleine

Our team has looked forward to it all year and it has finally begun, Geneva to Nice kicked-off on the 9th June 2019 with the snowy peak of Mont Blanc in the backdrop.
Today the team rode the first of two Alpine passes,

• Col des Aravis (1486 m) 1st category. Average gradient: 5.7% ; maximum gradient : 8.6%. Distance 21.3 km ; height gain 756 m.
• Col de la Madeleine (1993 m) hors catégorie 25,3 km, average gradient 6,2 % ; height gain. : 1585 m

In addition they rode Les lacets de Montvernier: Not officially a col but the climb features 17 tightly packed hairpin bends that came at them thick and fast! 3.4 km, average gradient 7.3%, elevation gain: 505 m

Here is an interview with Stephen on Madeleine,

 

Here are some snapshots of the summit of Madeleine;

Summit of Madeleine, a great achievement to reach

 

Geneva to Nice is one of the best tours you can ride

Camaraderie forms on Geneva to Nice

As you can see the weather conditions were not ideal but the team did well to reach the summit of both cols.

One of the great things about Geneva to Nice is that even if the weather is not the best it is still an amazing challenge featuring Tour de France climbs and thrilling descents. Let’s not forget the views which have to be savoured to be believed.

 Submitted: 13/06/2019