Epic Cycling Climbs Route from Thonon les Bains to Alpe d'Huez and back
Epic Cycling Climbs Route
Multi -Day Ride Thonon Les Baines to Alpe d’Huez and back
A ride starting and ending in Lake Geneva and taking in France's highest mountains and passes plus a detour to Italy and Switzerland to climb the Grand St Bernard, the most historic of alpine crossings. In total this ride covers 835km, spans 17 climbs with around 22,000m climbing. I would plan for 10 days.
First Leg: Thonon les Baines to Alpe d'Huez - check out the rote here
Stage 1: Thonon les Bains to Cluzes, 98km, 2,185m elevation gain, Climbs: Col du Feu and Col du Joux Plain - What better way to start than to get right into it. This stage sets the scene for the entrie ride with two climbs.
Stage 2: Cluzes to Beaufort, 87km, 2,793m elevation gain, Climbs: Col de la Colombiere, Col des Aravis, Col des Saises - Despite being at lower altitude, this is a super hard day riding with three climbs on the menu. Best to take it easy and phase the ride with plenty of breaks to admire the view and save the legs.
Stage 3: Beaufort to Bourg St Maurice, 40km, 1,491m elevation gain, Climbs: Cormet de Roselend. – Shorter day to recover the legs and to avoid the traffic. The Cormet de Roselend is a phantastic ride and a Tour de France classic. As this is a shorter stage, enjoy this ride to the max. Take taxi from Bourg St Maurice to Val d'Isere due to traffic and start the next day from Val d’Isere.
Stage 4: Val d'Isere to Valloire, 106km, 2,179m elevation gain, Climbs: Col d'Iseran, Col du Telegraph. – A phantastic day in store with climbing the Col d’Iseran from Val d’Isere with around 950m climbing. As the highest paved alpine pass, this is an absolute nigh point of the tour and a must to ride. A long 56km descend to Modane through the lovely Haute Maurienne valley follows before scaling the Col du Telegraph to Valloire.
Stage 5: Valloire to Alpe d'Huez, 78km, 2,640m elevation gain, Climbs: Col du Galibier, Alpe d'Huez. – Having halved the ascend to the Galibier is a good idea as you arrive on the top not totally exhausted and can really enjoy the upper slopes. There is a long descend before climbing on a side road above Romanche valley before hitting the switchbacks to Alpe d’Huez. If this day is too tough, continue on the main road to Le Bourg d'Oisans and then start the climb to Alpe d'Huez from the valley.
Return Leg: Alpe d'Huez to Thonon les Baines - Check out the route here
Stage 6: Alpe d'Huez to La Chambre, 60km, 1,600m elevation gain, Climbs: Col de la Croix de Fer/Col Glandon - An easier day to recover throm the previous day. After a descent to Allemond, the route climbs the Col de la Croix de Fer and then descends via the Col de Glandon to end in La Chambre. The Col de la Croix de Fer is from Allemond is one of the nicest ride in the French Alps.
Stage 7: La Chambre to Notre Dame de Briancon, 60km, 1,600m elevation gain, Climbs: Col de la Madeleine - Another easier day to keep something in the tank for the next two days. The Col de la Madeleine is on the programme and you can ride fruther into the Tarantaise valley towards Moutiere to shorthen the next day.
Stage 8: Notre Dame de Briancon to La Thuile, 83km, 2,600m elevation gain, Climbs: Col du Tra, Petit St Bernard – This day takes the route to Italy via the Tarantaise valley, a 780m climb to the Col du Tra continue on side roads to Bourg St Maurice. The day is topped off by ascending the Petit Col St Bernard and down to La Thuile. For less climbing, you could stay on the Tarantaise valley road and skip the Col du Tra.
Stage 9: La Thuile to Grand St Bernard, 85km, 2,720m elevation gain, Climbs: Col San Carlo, Col du Grande St Bernard – A super day riding is store on this stage. It starts with a 485m climb to the Col de San Carlo into the Aosta valley and onward to Aosta. From there the route climbs to the Grand St Bernard pass taking the right side of the valley on side roads till the upper slopes of the pass road. This stage ends at the pass with a stay at the historic refuge. For less climbing, skip the Col du San Carlo and stay on the main road descending to St Didier in the Aosta valley.
Stage 10: Grand St Bernard to Thonon les Baines, 123km, 1,330m elevation gain, Climbs: Lac de Morgins – Last day and last push. While this is a long stage, there are around 80km downhill as we drop form the Grand St Bernard pass at 2,469m to Lake Geneva at 370m. The pass descent is a busy road though. The route continues through the Rhone valley before climbing to the Lac de Morgins and into France back to Thonon les Baines.
