After a night in our American-inspired lodge and what may have been the best pizzas we have ever eaten, it was time to move on. Our plan was to finally catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc, which had eluded our friends on their last AMA tour. The morning began with wet roads, mist, and little visibility, but we kept our spirits high. As we climbed the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard and finally rose above the clouds, the view that unfolded was simply phenomenal. Mont Blanc stayed hidden, but the sea of peaks and sky was more than enough reward.
Back on the French side, six more passes awaited us. Before tackling the Col de la Madeleine, we stopped at the tiny village of Pussy to splash some cold water on our faces. The climb was steep, the lunch at the top well-earned. After the best pizza ever, the tortilla margherita here did not quite measure up, but it kept us going.
A few passes later we reached the Lacets de Montvernier. Before riding its 17 tight switchbacks, Mark surprised us with a viewpoint over the entire road – the perfect spot for photos. From there we had the option to head straight to the hotel, but of course nobody was ready to call it a day. Instead, we all went for the additional loop with its breathtaking roads and steep climbs. The engines had to work hard on those final passes, but once we rolled into Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne the cold drinks waiting for us felt like the perfect reward.
