The Ascent
A 7km drag up to the base of the climb makes your legs feel heavy before you even start the climb proper. The first 4km is at about 5% and being a ski resort the whole climb is well tarmaced.
You then hit 4km at more than 10% and sustained ramps of 13%. The last 3 km the gradient reduces with the excpeption of a last 16% kick to the summit, which can feel like a wall.
To make the climb harder, it is very exposed over the steep section. But if you climb this climb at the weekend, there will be no shortage of locals climbing it with you to give you support.