Different people, different experiences, the same old mountain.

As Max states himself, in Higher Calling, there are more obvious climbs, more iconic ones, steeped in Tour history and hunted by col collecting cyclo-tourists the world round. But the Bonette has all the elements that he broke down to try and find some answers to the big question.

What exactly is road cycling’s obsession with the mountains?

Allegedly, if not technically, Europe’s highest. It's just twenty four simple kilometres of tarmac. But why build it in the first place?

The answer is found among the forts which litter the route and act as architectural landmarks of the rich policital and military history of the region.

If you’re one of the thousands who've ridden Bonette, you’ll remember the passage through the Camp des Fourches, which acts like a gateway between the open pastures above the tree-line and the lunar landscape heights above.

As cyclists, the road is a playground but for the residents of Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée it is an economic lifeline. Both for tourism and agriculture.

Are the distractions mere mortals need to reach the top. The details of the mountains, the patchwork of nature, culture and history.

Marmottes, bunkers, herds of sheep, the construction of the road, the waterways, deer, the shepherds, the rock formations towering above everything .

The mountains are where we emulate the legends of cycling. René Vietto, Frederico Bahamontes, perhaps one day Joe Dombrowski.

Climbers. GCs are won almost exclusively by climbers. Queen stages are held in the mountains. The mountain is the other competitor in a race that the riders face and where the most memorable stories play out.

On such a road how is it possible. To achieve such speeds, to get the upper hand on your competitors. Simple, Joe tells Max - it's a matter of control.

If the other guy has it, you don't, and guess what - you'll probably get dropped.

Unlike the professionals, we are not committed the racing line. We are here to enjoy and explore. So let’s see how far we can get up the Cime.

Today, two hundred metres is the limit. Next time.