Cycling routes around Annecy France?

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Much to my amazement Lady TSC has agreed to let me take the bike on our summer hols for a 3 day pass. So i'm furiously trying to get 3 routes nailed down before she changes her mind! The one that sprang to mind was Col du Grand Colombier due West of Annecy which looks to be a nice day out and around 80-100 miles. Does anyone have any experience of rides around this area or suggest 2 other routes.(Max 7-8 hours from Lake Annecy)

Thanks in advance.

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That's great thanks. I think the loop around the lake via the Semnoz and col de la Forclas would make a memorable ride. Even though it's short milage wise, the climbing (9000 Ft) more than makes up for it. Looking at trip to the east and the Croix Fry, I like the look of the linking the Aravis and then dropping back into Annecy to top up the miles.

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Chicken Chaser said:

Incidentally, when are you going? We went to Annecy last year, stopped further south along the western side of the lake at St Jorioz, and it was absolutely beautiful. So much so that we are seriously looking at returning this year. We did a week there as well as a week in the Somme area and a few days at Troyes (which is also good cycling area but more rollers than big climbs).

We are probably going end of June/start of July and i'll be taking the campervan and staying in it. Last year I didnt have the road bike with me as I had my little one and she rides in a trailer. This year i'm going back, and im in the process of buying something which I pull her along with and then also use to go off early doors or during slack times when wife and child just want to play in the pool and sweat out some miles. If we do, Semnoz will be one of those i'll be tackling.

We've booked to go mid August and staying at the southern end of the lake in Doussard in a two week road trip with stops planned at Reims, then travelling through Epernay stopping at a couple of villages we've been to before then onto Beaune, then Annecy. On the way back we've pencilled in Troyes. Just looking for an overnight stop somewhere nice before Calais prior to the ferry home. You're right the pics do look amazing around Annecy, so much so I'm considering taking the DSLR on the road bike!

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murray said:

This is the route of the first day of the Hot Chillee alpine challenge from a few years ago:-

https://www.strava.com/activities/189830591

Takes in Forclaz, not too bad, and Semnoz, tough.

That looks a great route and tackles the Semnoz the same direction I was thinking.