Isola 2000 - Isola

We turned off the D6202 from Nice and started heading up the valley towards Isola on the much quieter D2205. The road follows the Tinnee river with spectacular views. The main road steepens until at 76km you reach the picturesque town of Isola. At the roundabout you take the exit for the village and about 200m on, you turn right onto the aptly named Rue Des Ancien Combattants and the foot of the Isola 2000 climb. It really rears up at about 10% for the first 4km. Time to suck it up and find your rythm. The road twists and turns to and fro across the valley with some nice respites on the hairpins from time to time, enabling you to get on top of the gear again. The road surface is smooth and fast with spectacular views as you round various turns. The town of Isola 2000 hoves into view at, youve guessed it, 2000m and suckers you in to thinking youre done....think again! As you skirt the edge of the town without ever going into it, you push over the false crest and realize that youve got another 4km and the gradient goes up once again. Within the next 3.8km you gain 400m. The road twists and turns in irregular sweeps. I topped the climb to find mark well pleased with himself and the Italian border beckoning.

My personal climb rating: