New Year - New Plans

So here we are in 2015, on what is without doubt the best day of the year so far. But as it's January 2nd, that's not saying much! Training, for next summer's foray into the Alps, is well under way.Today's 35 mile loop, with 5 decent climbs and a succession of short ramps, flew by under clear blue skies. It's amazing to think that most of the high cols I rode over just a few months ago are now closed by snow.

The outline plan for this summer is complete. It involves 9 new climbs, culminating with Mont Ventoux. Before that, I also want to reacquaint myself with the Col du Galibier, but this time, going up via the Col de Lautaret. You can't go to Bourg d'Oisans without riding up Alpe d'Huez, of course. And the Col d'Ornon is a fitting apéritif to the whole enterprise.

Here is the full list. The text in parentheses are the ride number in 100 Greatest Climbs of the Tour de France, and the climb's star rating.

From Bourg d'Oisans:

• Col d'Ornon (84: 5/10)
• Alpe d'Huez (83: 8/10)
• Col de la Madeleine via the Col du Glandon (75&81: 9/10&8/10)
• Col du Galibier via the Col du Lautaret (87&88: 10/10&4/10)

From Bourg St Maurice:

• Cormet-de-Roseland (68: 7/10)
• La Plagne (77: 7/10)
• Col de l'Iseran (78: 10/10)

From Guillestre:

• Col d'Agnel (92: 9/10)
• Col de Vars (95: 8/10)
• Col d'Allos (97: 9/10)
• Cime de la Bonette (98: 10/10)

From Bedoin;

• Mont Ventoux (100: 10/10)

This all depends on being able to book accommodation and travel, of course. We'll be trying for early August again, just after the Tour de France has passed through. It's a lot to pack into two weeks.