Ran my first "JWOC" (in those days, officially the Open European Junior Championships) there in 1989. No shortage of steep bits as I recall.
my aunt and uncle are currently in the French Alps and he posted on facebook something similar about an e-bike this morning. Knowing the climbs around there I reckon it'd be a really good idea. You still have to put in effort (it's assistance not everything) but like you say you could get so much further.
On another note I rode back to Ballarat from Creswick after one of the races the ther week. Old dude on an ebike passed me, told me I should get one, then asked if I was on the plant-eater diet and proceeded to try get me to sign up to his FB page (Bendigo Vegans and Vegetarians) to give me some tips.