The Tour is getting closer...

The town of Bourg d'Oisans is feeling pretty lively at present and all has been decorated with a Tour theme in readiness for next Thursday and Friday.

The famous 'big bikes' have appeared on the roundabout on the way into town, and it seems just too irresistible for some (see right!).

Spaces available for the Tour and Marmotte

Due to some late cancellations, we have a twin room available for the week that the Tour is in town (14th to 21st July), as well as some free space for the Marmotte sportive.

Critérium du Dauphiné

A bit of a late post about the Critérium du Dauphiné which passed our door on Saturday 8th June, a lovely sunny day here in the Oisans, after a long winter and very late snow.

Most of the village turned out to see the riders go by, there was a lovely atmosphere with lots of chat and catching up in between the groups of riders. There were some tired faces amongst the peloton but that isn't surprising really!

A few of our photos on this link.

In a few weeks time (18th July) we'll be seeing some of the same faces coming past in the other direction during stage 18 of the Tour. With 2 ascents of Alpe d'Huez ahead of them it should be interesting to see the pace that is being set... http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/us/stage-18.html

The Col du Galibier is open for 2013!

It opened last night.

Our guests are riding there tomorrow, so we'll have some good stories of the snow banks and snow walls over dinner tomorrow evening!

Col de la Coix de Fer open for 2013...

...but bring your thermals, it's cold up there!

Early opening due for Galibier...

http://inrng.tumblr.com/post/48949854503

The Giro passes over on the 19th May.

Critérium du Dauphiné on our doorstep again

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2013-criterium-du-dauphine-route-unveiled

'Like at the Tour, the Dauphiné peloton will ride up the famous 21 bends of l’Alpe d’Huez before continuing on to the Col de Sarenne pass ahead of the descent to Le Freney d’Oisans. Rather than swing around and go back up the Alpe, however, stage 7 of the Dauphiné will see the peloton tackle the Col du Noyer before finishing at Superdévoluy.'

Further details of the route needed, but this would suggest to us that the riders will be coming up the Col d'Ornon on the way through to the Noyer on the 8th June.

The same race came up the Col d'Ornon back in 2007 (see photos).