Hi
As Ive said in these pages before ridinga major col can be brutal! Col
de la Madeleine - 20km of heat, 10% gradient in places. Col de la
Croix de Fer - 30km unrelenting gradient (bourg d'oisons side)
And Col de Soudet (even after 8 years it still sticks in my mind) I
think the tour goes up there this year but i dunno which side. This is
a long hot climb with sticky tar in the corners a couple of sections
of 12% and a lot of suffering.
I cant think of many 'easy' cols to be honest - Les Deux alpes is
nothing much i suppose.
Best thing to do is what discohokie did last year and just go there!

As for challengers, dont think hamiliton is up for it but maybe Botero
could suprise... a columbian winner? that would be a refreshing change
:-)
This is probably my last post til 22nd - keep the group active in my
absence guys!
Take care

Micky

PS Look out for me on the TV - will probably be wearing my Newcastle
United (black and white striped top) on the L'alpe D'huez!