Day 4 - Briancon to Les Thuiles

We woke up to blue skies and stunning views of the glaciers de la Meije and with no indication of yesterdays blizzard to be seen. A big continental breakfast and we were on our way a 30 km downhill stretch to Briancon and pick up todays route an easier 109kms including climbs over the Col d'Izoard(2360m) and the Col de Vars(2109m).

The climbing starts right out of the highest town in Europe and to our surprise we had our own 4ft lane all the way to the top. The Col d'Izoard is a unique place to cycle and one of the great Cols of the French Alps. From the green wooded mountainsides above Briançon, to the sandy coloured, eroded cliffs above the the Casse Deserte(below) and the Col, the scenery is amazing.

An interesting drop through a scenic gorge to Guillestre where we stopped for lunch.
A thriving market town