If the truth be known I owe a lot to the rockstar ascent that is Alpe d’Huez, along with its equally impressive neighbours the Glandon and Galibier. Back in 2003 it was the lure of these legendary peaks that gave me my first real taste of the mountains as I nervously lined up for La Marmotte not really knowing what I was getting myself into. I remember rolling into Bourg d’Oisans and feeling my stomach somersaulting with fearful excitement at the gargantuan size of the mountains surrounding me. You could feel the energy they possessed, like the walls of a Roman amphitheatre staring down at a gladiator about to go into combat. I’ll never forget that moment, eventually carving my way up the 21 bends to the summit of Alpe d’Huez. We’ve come a long way since then but this is, and always will be, where the dream began. Peace. Start: Bourg d'Oisans Length: 13.2km Summit: 1,850m Elevation gain: 1,108m Average gradient: 8.1% Max gradient: 13% We hope you enjoyed this video. For more help and advice visit our website at thecolcollective.com, become part of our col community and sign up for our free newsletter for monthly updates. If you’re able to help spread our message by sharing with your friends and fellow riders then that would be truly appreciated. Our goal is to try and get more people on their bikes and enjoying the wonderland of the mountains. Never miss a video, subscribe to our YouTube channel or get in touch on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. We’d love to hear from you. Ride safe and thank you for watching. Mike Cotty The Col Collective Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TheColCollective?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheColCollective Twitter: twitter.com/colcollective Instagram: instagram.com/thecolcollective Google+: www.google.com/+TheColCollective

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