'Allez, Allez, Allez!' My Tour de France Experience
ALMA MOYA LOSADA
Photos: ALMA MOYA LOSADA
Jul / 6 / 2024
I wanted to share my whirlwind experience at the Tour de France in early July. It all started with a nighttime arrival in Torino, where I enjoyed a delicious dinner with our guests and team. I had the pleasure of meeting our Italian team and introducing myself to the guests, as I would be guiding them over the next two days through some epic climbs of the Tour de France.
The next morning, we had a quick drive from Turin to Pinerolo to catch the start of the race. The atmosphere was electric, with crowds of excited spectators. We arrived just in time for the team presentation and the race's kickoff. It was quite a spectacle, with a caravan of trucks throwing out giveaways, lively music, and dancers. It's easy to see why the Tour de France is the biggest cycling event in the world—no one does it quite like the French.
After the pros took off, we began our own ride toward the Col de Sestriere, which was part of stage 4 of the Tour. The climb from Pinerolo to Cesana was long and challenging, with a hint of Tour de France fame. Col de Sestriere, a mountain pass in the Cottian Alps, sits at 17 km from the French border and is known for its connection to cycling history.
We stopped at a charming French chalet restaurant for a delightful dinner, sampling a bit of everything: classic fondue, raclette, and some local meats—all served with excellent French hospitality.
Our next adventure took us to a beautiful hotel for some rest before tackling the fourth-highest pass in Europe, the Col de la Galibier at 2,642 m. This iconic climb, first featured in the Tour de France in 1911, boasts an average gradient of 6.8% with a tough finish. Despite the chilly, cloudy, and windy conditions at the top, the breathtaking views made it all worthwhile. The descent to the Col du Télégraphe was exhilarating, a perfect reward for the climb.
To cap off the trip, I had the pleasure of sharing a morning coffee in Lavaux with two of our guests and iron-triathletes, Emily and Brad. Lavaux, located in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, is renowned for its 830 hectares of terraced vineyards along the northern shores of Lake Geneva. I then dropped them off in Lausanne for the Challenge Roth race in Germany—a must-do event for triathlon enthusiasts worldwide. The competition includes a 3.8 km swim, followed by a 180 km bike ride, and finishes with a marathon run of 42 km.
Chapeau to everyone! (That's French for "hats off," a way to say great job!) What an active holiday break!
See you soon, Alma
