Heat traces on the Côte d'Azur
The temperature may be at its lowest point of the year, but the heat traces remain. We're not talking about the ever-present palm trees or even more permanent tans of some local residents, but rather the dramatic lines of the Strava Heatmap.
Playing with the zoom button is a fun way to find our favourite Cols, but without labels or other cartographic features, can you guess which is which?
1. SWITCHBACK OVERDOSE
An easy one to begin with. A coiled spring of 65 switchbacks in total if you ride it using the old road. This one is perhaps lesser known because it's a bit of hike from Nice and fronts up to Italy, but it is an in-house favourite with an unpaved summit.
2. A MOUNTAIN LASSO
What is interesting about this Col is that the trace is really hot on the south eastern side before fading out 10kms before the summit. Maybe that's because the road is only open for approximately six months of the year or maybe it's because each side is more than 24kms long. What the lines also show is that those that do ride to the top, usually do the extra loop...
3. THE KINGDOM OF LE ROI
More hot switchbacks but surprisingly the east side scorches a bit more brightly. On the west, look for the #everytimeipass photo point. The keen-eyed will see the north road leading to a col-bagging transition towards this climb's bigger brother.
4. THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
Zoom in and you see this Col is on fire, especially on the southern side. Maybe the petrolheads who make the pilgrimage to it each summer have Strava turned on too? The map shows the three major ascents, and if you climb all of them in one day you become certified....
5. THE BALD MANTwo sets of seven neatly-stacked switchbacks in less than five kms and only 30 minutes ride from central Nice means this one gives a good exchange rate between distance and elevation. Go past the barrier to summit the bald head.
6. FERRARI RAMPS
Almost equally balanced, but once again the lesser known side of this col burns slightly brighter. This testing ground has probably seen more pro wheels than many other cols yet has never featured on the Tour. If you're lucky, you'll get a live drums performance at the top.
How many can you identify? Submit your answers via our Facebook page HERE for a chance to win the Café du Cycliste cap filled with the badge for all six of the climbs.
