Alps-Road Cycling

[Teebs]

Can anyone with previous experience offer some guidance

We're heading to France in early June for a week of cycling (me) and dog walking/coffee drinking (wife)...
I'm struggling to pin down exactly where to stay, somewhere that offers a good selection of climbs nearby, but not too isolated for the wife. I was originally thinking Le Grand Bonard/La Clusaz, but I want to make sure I don't miss anything before I book?

Stayed outside of Annecy before, so that's the only destination I wouldn't consider (not that it's bad, but I would like some variety)

Many thanks

[matt-ITR]

Briancon is a nice area. Full of history and lots of big climbs within easy reach.
Italy is just over the hill too, so you can get some decent coffee

[mcelliott]

I've been cycling in the Alps for the best part of 20 years, and definitely a favourite for me is the Bourg d'Oisans area. Loads and loads of different routes and numerous iconic climbs. Will be there in a few weeks - can't wait.

[Teebs]

Thanks for both. Like the idea of being close to Italy..

[timlongs]

Briancon is a great choice, plenty of good cols to have a go at: Izoard, Agnel, Granon, Lautaret, Galibier and loads more!

[leyorkie]

Bourg st Maurice
Near the Grande Alps route and Col d'Iseran

[Steve vRS]

I've stayed at a small town north of Nice called Pont du Loup. Close to a load of big climbs, the most famous being the Col de Vence and only 40 miles from the Col de Madone. Excellent cycling, beautiful medieval villages all around and close to Nice for your wife.

I'm going back in April and can't wait

Steve

[matt-ITR]

mcelliott said:

I've been cycling in the Alps for the best part of 20 years, and definitely a favourite for me is the Bourg d'Oisans area. Loads and loads of different routes and numerous iconic climbs. Will be there in a few weeks - can't wait.

Skiing presumably?
Not that many famous climbs on the doorstep though, but good for maybe 4-5 days of riding.

Croix der Fer/Glandon, Alpe d'Huez and Lautaret/Galibier. Ornon is nice, but short and there are some nice but less well known climbs and a few other ski station climbs, but IMO its not the best base for a week of riding.

Lake Annecy is a great base, but already ruled out. Has options to go North, South, East or West.

[Rolls]

I agree that alpe d is the perfect place to stay! Easy to make a weeks worth of riding there - we've done so 4 times!
Off to morzine this year for somewhere different though..

Just don't only stick to the usual alpe d climb... Look at the roads around there..
Climb the road on the opposite side of the valley.. You've got telegraphs to climb.. The saraeane (or however it's spelt - it'll be the climb over the back of alpe d that the tour went down 3 years back I think it was) deux Alps too...

[richardxjr]

Rolls +1

This is the balcony back road to Alpe D'Huez, via Vilard Reculas. You can just see some of the famous 21 bends road in the lower left of the pic. Both roads converge in Huez village, half way up the mountain. The balcony road continues along the valley, climbing higher.

Bourg d'Oisans is the Alps cycling capital really, a nice little town you can see 1000m below.

Never ending fantastic riding. Some passes (eg Galibier) may still be closed early June though. Go as late as poss.

[okgo]

I stayed near B St Maurice, and it was alright, but to get to Iseran was a fairly unpleasant road IIRC, I think Alpe D is the one.

[Amateurish]

I'm biased, but I really recommend Morzine. There's loads to do in summer for your wife, and lost of great climbs around e.g. Joux Plane, Joux Verte, Ramaz, L'Encrenaz. Plus there's a good sportive that time of year.

[wobert]

Amateurish said:

I'm biased, but I really recommend Morzine. There's loads to do in summer for your wife, and lost of great climbs around e.g. Joux Plane, Joux Verte, Ramaz, L'Encrenaz. Plus there's a good sportive that time of year.

A group of us from work are doing a weekend in June based in Morzine.

Saturday is a 65 mile road ride finishing with the Col de Joux Planes and then an day MTBing at the bike park with uplifts....

The Col de Joux Planes looks unlike anything I've encountered before, 12kms up, climbing 1000m at an average grade of 9%, coming from N Wales, that's several orders of magnitude greater than anything local!

Looks like I need some training runs on the Horse-Shoe pass (which is local to me)!

[Amateurish]

wobert said:

A group of us from work are doing a weekend in June based in Morzine.

Saturday is a 65 mile road ride finishing with the Col de Joux Planes and then an day MTBing at the bike park with uplifts....

The Col de Joux Planes looks unlike anything I've encountered before, 12kms up, climbing 1000m at an average grade of 9%, coming from N Wales, that's several orders of magnitude greater than anything local!

Looks like I need some training runs on the Horse-Shoe pass (which is local to me)!

It's a fantastic climb and and absolute killer. If you're doing it at the end of a 65 mile route, it will really sort the men from the boys...

[richardxjr]

That is steep for the Alps. Most avg 6-8% but of course all are bloody long!

Toughest I rode (in the AdH area) was Col du Sabot. Steep narrow and very gravelly! (or was that grovelly?)
But a dead end so no cars thankfully. Fantastic off road descent runs parallel with it too.

[Teebs]

Thanks for all the input, I think Bourg D'Osians may be the one to choose. Looks to be plenty to keep the wife entertained whilst I'm out and about.

Can't move the date away from early June, so I'll take my chances with the higher passes.

"Bike Osians" web-site has GPX files for rides in the area, so I'll just download onto my Garmin before I go, nice touch that.

[Roman]

For a week of pure cycling with mates I'd echo Bourg-d'Oisans or Briançon but with your wife I'd really recommend Chambéry not far to the North.

It's a good sized picturesque medieval garrison town, quite Italianate in character with a university so is lively and friendly with plenty for your wife to explore on foot whilst you ride. Lots of great bars and restaurants, nice walks in the Chartreuse and Bauges national parcs and around Lac du Bourget (perfect recovery ride around the lake) and also handy for Geneva and Annecy.

Loads of great riding and you won't come back exhausted to a partner bored of kicking their heels in a little French town all day.

Check it out:
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chamb%C3%A9ry

[E65Ross]

Has anyone stayed near Giez? May be going there in the summer. 8ve done a few looks around Google maps and there certainly seems to be some decent length climbs.

[richardxjr]

You'll love it, especially with your own support crew/car

When route planning I believe the Tunnel du Chambon is still closed. This linked Galibier to Bourg d'Oisans forming the 100+ mile circular route of La Marmotte.

If Galibier is open (there are signs advising cols status in Bourg), the weather favourable and you can spare a day, take a nice scenic drive over Croix de Fer (preferably after you've ridden it) and park up at Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. Then you can ride Telegraphe-Galibier both ways (+ Lauteret too if you like).

[Teebs]

richardxjr said:

You'll love it, especially with your own support crew/car

When route planning I believe the Tunnel du Chambon is still closed. This linked Galibier to Bourg d'Oisans forming the 100+ mile circular route of La Marmotte.

If Galibier is open (there are signs advising cols status in Bourg), the weather favourable and you can spare a day, take a nice scenic drive over Croix de Fer (preferably after you've ridden it) and park up at Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. Then you can ride Telegraphe-Galibier both ways (+ Lauteret too if you like).

Cracking, thanks. Really looking forward to it, the rides I did in Annecy were some of the best ever..

https://www.strava.com/activities/86481546#9762635...