Irish Corner alpe d'huez

redzerredzer

Anybody going?

luapenak

Haven't decided where I'll be standing, probably depends on those I'm going with, but it's a possibility.

boege

Staying near Grenoble with family. Concerned about sheer volume of traffic trying to get up that day.

Thinking of cycling up in the morning with my son.

Irish corner is corner 10

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/irish-fans-to-create-irish-corner-on-tour-de-frances-alpe-dhuez-aims-to-rival-dutch-corner/

Captain Havoc

Fantastic idea, Roche and Martin both seem to really appreciate the support they get from the Irish fans.

redzerredzer

boege wrote: »

Thinking of cycling up in the morning with my son.

Anyone know what time you'd be allowed to cycle up until.

fixie fox

Fair play if ye are going but will ye for fec£ sake please leave the PaddyWhackery leprechaun hats and beards at home and don't make a show of us.

manwithaplan

fixie fox wrote: »

Fair play if ye are going but will ye for fec£ sake please leave the PaddyWhackery leprechaun hats and beards at home and don't make a show of us.

I think you may be missing the point.

morana

fixie fox wrote: »

Fair play if ye are going but will ye for fec£ sake please leave the PaddyWhackery leprechaun hats and beards at home and don't make a show of us.

and Gaa jerseys and munster rugby jerseys...go green!

High Nellie

manwithaplan wrote: »

I think you may be missing the point.

Ya, acting like a nation of Leprechauns would probably fit the international perception and expectation all right.

Esroh

manwithaplan wrote: »

I think you may be missing the point.

The Dutch Corner may have splifs but they dont actually all go round with giant ones in hand

Sacksian

I"m going but I'm keeping it classy.

I'll be the guy with a top hat and monocle in the beefeater uniform.

elduggo

I'm up for it

BofaDeezNuhtz

Esroh wrote: »

The Dutch Corner may have splifs but they dont actually all go round with giant ones in hand

Stopped reading after the 6th word....ticket booked...

Sacksian wrote: »

I"m going but I'm keeping it classy.

I'll be the guy with a top hat and monocle in the beefeater uniform.

Good man, just what every Irish man wants to see, someone in a brit uniform
shouting at them from the side of the road like its South Armagh in the bleedin' 80's.
Stick a Thatcher mask on too willya

finbarrk

How long would it take to drive up there early in the morning from Lyon anyone?

Chips Lovell

You can't call yourself a cycling fan unless you're running alongside them, locked out of your head, in just a pair of Speedos.

High Nellie

The Basques know how to party at the Tour.

I was following it in the Pyrenees in 2003 and was with a crowd of them on one of the climbs. They really pi$$ed me off - they were drunk and acting the maggot - lying on the road before team cars ahead of the race that they didn't like etc. But it was one of those mountain-top finishes where the riders have to ride back down again. So, after the race was finished, they all stayed around, lined each side of the road, and cheered every rider on the way back down. It completely changed my opinion - real fans, which I should have known!

That was the year their great hope, Beloki, crashed out on that corner where Lance took the shortcut across the field. That night I moved on to the next mountain and was camped in the gutter on one of the bends. In the middle of the night a noise outside the tent woke me. It was two drunk Basques painting 'Beloki 2004' on the road. It was hilarious as they could hardly stand up - I was waiting for one of them to fall over the tin of paint. None of that craic on the Alpe d'Huez now lads.

finbarrk

High Nellie wrote: »

The Basques know how to party at the Tour.

I was following it in the Pyrenees in 2003 and was with a crowd of them on one of the climbs. They really pi$$ed me off - they were drunk and acting the maggot - lying on the road before team cars ahead of the race that they didn't like etc. But it was one of those mountain-top finishes where the riders have to ride back down again. So, after the race was finished, they all stayed around, lined each side of the road, and cheered every rider on the way back down. It completely changed my opinion - real fans, which I should have known!

That was the year their great hope, Beloki, crashed out on that corner where Lance took the shortcut across the field. That night I moved on to the next mountain and was camped in the gutter on one of the bends. In the middle of the night a noise outside the tent woke me. It was two drunk Basques painting 'Beloki 2004' on the road. It was hilarious as they could hardly stand up - I was waiting for one of them to fall over the tin of paint. None of that craic on the Alpe d'Huez now lads.

Very good. Have you ever been to alpe d'huez?

boege

fixie fox wrote: »

Fair play if ye are going but will ye for fec£ sake please leave the PaddyWhackery leprechaun hats and beards at home and don't make a show of us.

I'm three foot tall and have a long red beard and I take great offence just cos I happen to like wearing green with a touch of gold bling....weally looking forward to this now!

...oh 'Danny boy', the pipes, the pipes are calling.......

Mint Sauce

finbarrk wrote: »

How long would it take to drive up there early in the morning from Lyon anyone?

No traffic, up to a couple of hours. This is based on a drive in RHD from the top of Alpe d'Huez back to Lyon late at night.

boege

Mint Sauce wrote: »

No traffic, up to a couple of hours. This is based on a drive in RHD from the top of Alpe d'Huez back to Lyon late at night.

My guess is that upwards of 250,000 people will be heading up the same road. The only plus is that the road to Bourg D'oisans from Grenoble/Lyon side is not on the race route although one assumes they will pull the traffic up before the town. Roads up the Alpe I suspect will close very early that day, normally for a late summit finish they close roads at the bottom around midday for vehicle traffic which is about 4-5 hours before the riders come through.

I'm in a similar situation and wondering if driving up in the morning is even possible. Would welcome info from anyone who knows more.

Mint Sauce

boege wrote: »

My guess is that upwards of 250,000 people will be heading up the same road. The only plus is that the road to Bourg D'oisans from Grenoble/Lyon side is not on the race route although one assumes they will pull the traffic up before the town. Roads up the Alpe I suspect will close very early that day, normally for a late summit finish they close roads at the bottom around midday for vehicle traffic which is about 4-5 hours before the riders come through.

I'm in a similar situation and wondering if driving up in the morning is even possible. Would welcome info from anyone who knows more.

You'd probably be as well to stay in Alpe d'Huez the night before, and freewheel down (assuming any beds left) or camp if possible.

Dooish

there are seven of us staying in allemond for a week and have planned to be corner ten on our rest day from cycling. keeping with the rest of the fans on huez we have the green hats, tricolour, tyrone flag, inflatable tricolour hammer all at the ready.

fondriest

Dooish wrote: »

there are seven of us staying in allemond for a week and have planned to be corner ten on our rest day from cycling. keeping with the rest of the fans on huez we have the green hats, tricolour, tyrone flag, inflatable tricolour hammer all at the ready.

Stayed there before and it's really handy to get to alp d'huez from there. Enjoy !

Shedite27

Not that I'll be able to make it this year, but what would be the neccessary travel arrangements to get to "Irish Corner"?

I assume you can't drive up on the day, is camping a free for all around there? How long a walk are we talking to get there from the nearest Car Park?

Would you likely have to spend a day or two on the mountain? Are there any busses organised to get fans up and down the hill?

manwithaplan

I'll be wearing a sombre black suit, braces, a white shirt, a black hat and stout shoes and will be sporting a fine beard.

Would anyone like to join me at Amish Corner?

Inquitus

This is the corner in question

couerdelion

Inquitus wrote: »

This is the corner in question

Good thinking with it being in the shade. Wouldn't be good to see a load of bright red Irishmen melting in the sun on TV.

petethedrummer

Is the Panda going?

Planet X

........or John 3:17..........or Davy Keogh?

Inquitus

I believe Father Neil Horan is a big cycling fan.....

Planet X

^^^^^
That him just off the turbo?

dastardly00

Planet X wrote: »

........or John 3:17..........or Davy Keogh?

A 'John 3:17' sign would be epic!!

Captain Havoc

dastardly00 wrote: »

A 'John 3:17' sign would be epic!!

O'Neills doing t-shirts. I saw they're doing cycling gear now also.

dancecatz2000

So who's bringing the Bbq,

REBELSAFC

Has anyone rocked up yet and planted a big tri colour in the middle of that hairpin to claim it as ours?

Or at least spraypainted Roche and Martin all over the road

Inquitus

These lads did.

Rovi

REBELSAFC wrote: »

Or at least spraypainted Roche and Martin all over the road

And KELLY.
Don't forget KELLY!

I've said it before hereabouts somewhere, it'd be a bit of gas to have Kelly's name on the road somewhere prominent, and see if he or his co-commentator comment on it

hardCopy

Inquitus wrote: »

These lads did.

Looks like the lads from Cote D'Ivoire got there first

Sacksian

Does anyone know what the distance is between the summit and corner 10?

How long would it take to walk?

manwithaplan

Sacksian wrote: »

How long would it take to walk?

Up or down

Sacksian

manwithaplan wrote: »

Up or down

I'll be walking sideways.

riparooo

Inquitus wrote: »

This is the corner in question

Dont mean to be a killjoy here but that corners looks like it could hold no more than 20 on the verge. So its all the paddies on the road then!

TheBlaaMan

riparooo wrote: »

Dont mean to be a killjoy here but that corners looks like it could hold no more than 20 on the verge. So its all the paddies on the road then!

No worries..........there's loads of room on the road !!

This is what it will be like. Really great pics here from 2011 http://cyclingtips.com.au/2011/07/le-tour-diary-stage-19-and-then-there-were-three/

elduggo

riparooo wrote: »

Dont mean to be a killjoy here but that corners looks like it could hold no more than 20 on the verge. So its all the paddies on the road then!

we can hop up on each others shoulders, make human pyramids, etc

its all about knowing how to pack

Dooish

Started to pack today and heading out this Sunday, if you see us on the hill give us a shout

Poncherello

Two of us get to Grenoble on Wed evening approx 6.30pm. There are no buses to L'Alpe Duez after 5pm so we will be taking a cab. If anyone would like to share le me know. Im getting quotes of 70 euro each for two of us, 40 euro for 4 etc.
Or if anyone is driving through with space in their camper van we will be loaded up with superquinn sausages !

el tel

Road closure info for the stage

http://oisans.com/artImages/file/flyer-tdf-2013.pdf

High Nellie

finbarrk wrote: »

Very good. Have you ever been to alpe d'huez?

Yes, on a bike but not to the Tour. I imagine its a bit of a scrum compared to other climbs.

Leroy42

was on the Alpe today, someguy was stopped there and when I descended there was a tricolour up.
Lots of campervans already stationed on the climb.
Obviously some Irish had been up the alp already as I saw a sign painted on the road, coming into Alpe d'heuz which said Mayo and I was wondering who the hell put that there, sure he's retired! then I looked again "Mayo for Sam".... Its not often you get to laugh when climbing the Alpe!


and yes this is a thinly veiled post to say that I managed to climb Alpe D'heuz:-)

kingdomlad

2 of us lads from Tralee heading out on Monday morning to Geneva. Climbing the Glandon on Monday evening, Izoard on Tuesday, Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday, and then back to Corner 10 early on Thursday morning. Looking forward to a bit of craic on the day. Allez, Allez, Allez!!!!

luapenak

el tel wrote: »

Road closure info for the stage

http://oisans.com/artImages/file/flyer-tdf-2013.pdf

Just looking at this, says access closed from le Bourg - d'Oisans from noon onwards. Surely this doesn't mean I can drive up the Alpe up to noon on the day of the race? I reckon I'm reading this badly or missing some key point.