The Narrow Wind Window that is the X-Alps 

“Not surprisingly, the winds are even more a problem for those on two wheels: its fame as a scene of one of the most gruelling climbs of the Tour de France has made it notorious among cyclists.” If it's hell for cyclists, then what is it for Paragliders?

Wind speeds on Mont Ventoux average 90+ km/h, 240 days out of the year, and wind speeds as high as 320 km/h have been recorded (consequently Venteux means "windy" in French). Not really the most ideal spot to launch a paraglider. However, for Mont Blanc and the other Mountains in the Alps the winds are a little more tame.

Well it turns out that most pilots will not take off in winds greater than 24 km/hr so wind speed, as you can imagine, is a huge issue. Not only is it difficult to handle a paraglider in high winds but it also increases the effect of mechanical turbulence which make the chance of collapse very real.

With a better understanding of how narrow the window of opportunity for flight can be I began to get a grasp of how in-tune these athletes must be with their environment to have a successful flight. Combine all of these limiting factors and it explains why so many athletes got stone-walled at Mont Blanc.

It's amazing that the athletes did as well as they did for the distance they had to travel and the number of launches they had to make.

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