Haute Route Alps 2014

Photo and Video Essay

Geneva, Switzerland to Nice, France 

904km Distance / +21,400m Climbing / Prologue +7 Stages / Aug 23-30, 2014

Geneva Prologue Start - Cut, Polished and Ready to Race!  

Eazy Blasts Out of the Start House for the 9km Prologue Time Trial.  Ranch riders solidly bunched together in the 12-14min time range.

Ranch Video Summary of Haute Route Event Produced by RiderSwissTrain, a

Hugely Valuable and Newly-Added member of the Ranch

STAGE 1 - GENEVA TO MEGEVE - 130km/+3100m


Col de la Columbiere - Spectacular Mountain Landscape Ridges, Peaks, Valleys and Clouds

"Le Petit Ranch" Ascending the Columbiere


Col de Croix Fry - Gorgeous and Green with Sharp Teeth

Col des Aravis  - High Alpine with Surrounding Rock Faces

Hotel Recovery Lab with Normatech "Space Boots" and Marc Pro EMS  (Rider Mama sleeping with head under blanket)

STAGE 2 - MEGEVE TO COURCHEVEL - 130km/+3900m

Cormet Roseland - Picturesque Mountainside, Lantern Rouge Approaching from Behind

Courchevel - Finishline after Big Day of Climbing +3900m

STAGE 3 - COURCHEVEL TO ALPE D'HUEZ - 137km/+4650m

Col de Madeleine  - Rainy, Windy and 5deg C  -- 50 people Dropped or were Forced to quit by Broom Wagon on the Col d'Glandon, including all but 12 women

SwissTrain's Wash Rack after Cold, Rainy day on Bike
STAGE 4 - ALPE D'HUEZ TIME TRIAL - 15km/+1100m


Descending from Alpe D'Huez to Bourg D'Oisan to Prep for Individual Time Trial Back Up

Turbo in the Alpe D'Huez Time Trial Start House Sporting US National Haute Route Jersey

Mama Climbing Alpe D'Huez in 1:21h time, beating 17% of Male Field

Rider Turbo giving 100% to cover the 15km and +1100m in 1:08h Time following Myers 59m, Cah-li 1:02, Eazy 1:09, Armstrong 39m,  Pantani 37m, site of battles between Hinault, Lemond, Indurain and myriad other Tour de France Champions and Ghosts of the Past.  Beautiful Weather, Legendary Climb, Electric Ambiance.

STAGE 5 - BOURG D'OISAN TO DIGNE LES BAINS - 187km/+2900m

Sporting "Ride the Rockies Kit" for a 187km Day with Three Big Climbs in South of France

Lookin' Good, Feelin' Good


STAGE 6 - DIGNE LES BAINS TO MT. VENTOUX - 145km/+3050m

Top of the "Geant de Provence" after 145km stage and 2 hours of hard climbing at the end.  Epic.

STAGE 7 - DIGNE LES BAINS TO NICE - 160km/+2700m

Final Day, Five More Climbs

Last Stage Team Push -- Mama Borrowing Watts with EZ's "Carlos" Technique

Final Timing Mat atop Col de Vence- Team Crosses in "Ranch Style"

Finish Line in Nice- Meditteranean Backdrop - Vive Le Ranch!