I rode it a few years ago – took me 1hr 17mins. It was an amazing experience.
I drove it first and was stunned – I think it took me half an hour in the car! The view from the road all the way up is just fantastic.
Then I rode it. When I hit the first right hand hairpin – about a km into the climb, I was convinced I wasn’t going to be able to finish. It was shockingly hard. I plodded on and in my mind I broke the climb up into sections. I was a quater of the way, then a third of the way etc. After half way you really don’t want to stop, and the last bit is amongst houses and hotels, through the tunnel etc, so it feels easier (well it’s flat too which helps LOL)
When I finished I actually (and surprisingly) burst into tears for a few seconds. Partly from the relief of finishing such an extreme effort, and partly because I had ridden to the top of Alpe d’Huez . . . the same hill I’d watched the Pro’s climb so many times on TV.
It was a good day 🙂