Day 1 Thonon to Samoens Day 1 2016

Thonon-Les Bains D902 -> Bioge -> Gorges and the Pont du
Diable -> Montriond -> Morizne > Samoens 84kms  Elevation gain 2209m

The Ride today
After the standard departure picture we left Thonon-les-Bains on the journey south
Destination Nice some  - 700kms away and many thousand of meters of climbing.

A easy spin up the valley of the Dranske River in the Gorge Diablo. Its uphill climbing - but it is only a 3 % grade. We sit comfortably on 22km/hr with only a altitude gain of 100meters or so in the first hour. But the next couple hours are somewhat different.

Before Morzine we turn left towards the lac Montriond and beginning climbing seriously at the lake edge.  On the horizon above I show John and Brandi the destination - those grassy paddocks way up there.  See that chairlift  - we go the top of that.

The road zig and zagged its way up - never below 9% and more often 10 and 11 and 12%. Chris is long gone and we don’t see him until goat town (Les Lindarets)
This town is full of goats that stink and the shit runs in the streets with the water. Lovely!

A further 4kms up through mossy forest with Brandi John and Geoff cresting the main drag to Avoriaz together.  A further 2kms brings us the to 1966 built wooden ski station of Avoriaz.

A quick chat to some ‘old french folks visiting the ski station for the first time in 30yrs’ and the 13.4km descent to lunch in Morzine beckons. Smooth flowing roads  - although a little rough in places. The first descent in the Alps so everyone is beaming. We stop a couple times to let Brandi catch up and cool her brakes off and then its free falling again into town.

Salad Ceasar seems to be the choice of the day for lunch in one of the few restaurants open.

Soon its time to head out again to climb the col de Joux Plane (this was used this year in the Tour de France as the final descent into Morzine (won by Ion Izagirre from Movistar)

The Col de Joux Plane ascent is a deceptively tough climb as it starts with a real kick from Morzine town centre. i.e. from 0% directly to 10%.There are a couple of easier sections that give the legs a quick break and the main climb ends at the top of the Ranfolly chair-lift before a flat last 2km to the lake. Lovely scenery  - riding up through a skiing area - chairlifts disappearing in all directions - the skiing looks awesome.
From the top great views of the Mont Blanc Massif - although a little hidden by clouds

Col de Joux Plane is 10.9km Average Grad 6.5% Vertical climb of 711m

John wins the award of the day - a small soft toy marmot that he is expected to display proudly all day tomorrow attached to his bike.  (He had a moment with a truck as he approached Samoens - both him and the driver got a fright but both survived to tell the tale.)

Another perfect day of riding in the Alps with temp ranging from a cool 15 degrees in the gorge earlier to 30 degrees on top of the Joux Plane.