Patrick, sorry to hear that you're really leaving us! I know it's not the same without Dakman here, but please reconsider...

I know what you mean, you want to experience this kind of epic climb before you leave Europe, especially one that so many people are familiar with.

We did it at the end of LaMarmotte, so it was sort of a blur, but still nice to have experienced it.

There is some good info about it on this blog:
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/alpe-dhuez-4/
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/alp...fferent-rides/

And who knows, if you send a message to Will, the author, maybe he'd even join you. He obviously doesn't let winter or snow on the passes stop him!

Enjoy And let us know if you come back and visit, so we can meet up again on some other epic mountain passes!