The VF still slows me down but I made it to Windy Pt in 2h5m staying in high Z3 & low Z4 and I felt good. The 8% pitch after Windy Pt got me and I started to tire. The rest of the way I stopped more frequently, kept nibbling on fig bars and an energy bar, kept drinking and taking endurolytes, kept sipping my honey/Hammer brew and got to White Tail campground which is the high point of the entire ride at 8,139' where I had planned to turn around, but since I was feeling fairly good and since I really wanted to do this, I throwing caution to the wind, coasted down through Bear Hollow and climbed slowly the last stretch up to the Summerhaven - Ski area intersection where I took a picture, ate the last of my supplies and turned around for the 29 mile ride back down to my car.
It was windy and cold most of the way down and I ended up with frozen fingers until I got low on the mountain.
I'm feeling better now about my chances to make it up Alpe d'Huez if I go slowly and if the weather permits. (It's still raining and cold over in the Alps).
VF sucks and I don't recommend it to anyone.