After a nice chat of the person manning the gate where the entrance fee needs to be paid, I was allowed up on the dirt road that leads to Colle Sommeiller – the highest point in the European Alps that is accessible by motorized vehicle (during some days and times). I was not sure I would make it as the Denzel difficulty had markedly increased, but in the end it went surprisingly well, and my main fear – that down would be more difficult than up – was in vain to as rolling downhill was noticeably easier, probably because of my “road” tires.