for those who rode the Cols in France, I need your advice

[masking_agent]

For those who rode the cols in France, I'd really like your feedback.
This September I am off to France to fulfill a long time dream, and that is to ride certain mountain climbs of the tour. I don't think I can fit both Pyrenees and Alpe cols in due to travel days. So is missing the Col du Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden a mistake ? or is it a must ride ? over the Alp climbs I mention below ?

What would you ride ?
Col du Galibier or Tourmalet ?
L'Alpe D'Huez or Tourmalet ?
Mt. Ventoux is a for sure

Col du Tourmalet
Luz Ardiden

 

[Race Radio]

For those who rode the cols in France, I'd really like your feedback.
This September I am off to France to fulfill a long time dream, and that is to ride certain mountain climbs of the tour. I don't think I can fit both Pyrenees and Alpe cols in due to travel days. So is missing the Col du Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden a mistake ? or is it a must ride ? over the Alp climbs I mention below ?

What would you ride ?
Col du Galibier or Tourmalet ?
L'Alpe D'Huez or Tourmalet ?
Mt. Ventoux is a for sure

Col du Tourmalet
Luz Ardiden

That is a tough question. I have ridden all of them. I can never figure out what I like better.

Tourmalet over Luz, but hard to say on the others. If you are in shape you can do Telegraph, Galibier, and Alp d'Huez in a day. Travel is also another question. Depending on where you are based the Pyrenees can be hard to get to and to get back from.

Another thing to remember is if you do Alps/Ventoux you can maybe fit the Col d'Izoard in between.

Gearing is important if you from the flats and really want to enjoy it.

 

[masking_agent]

thanks for posting. I think most of the time I'll be based in Briancon which is right in the Alps.

 

[davehunt9]

Hi I have ridden in the alps for years. It would be a mistake to try to do the Alps and the Phyrenes in one trip. If it is more then 3 weeks you could do it but why waste time travelling???
Briancon has some good biking but the main roads are busy. There is also a little known pass called the col de granon nearby. It is the hardest in the area, good road surface and quiet. Definitely worth a look. Also when you do the Alpe D'Huez (not a great climb because it is busy with buses, trucks etc but there are so many bikers on the road there is always someone to chase) there is a dead valley which is an easy climb although it is 1000 metres of climbing. But it is a wonderful ride. Col de Sarenne linking in with the Alpe D'Huez has a terrible road surface for descending but it is a wonderful climb. Col de Glandon is a classic tour climb. The others you know Galibier ( a must do) Madelaine another classic.
I stay in the Franch alps for the summers and I base out of Lac D'Annecy where there are Hors Category down to 4th Cat so plenty of opportunities for alternating hard and easy days and a wonderful Bike Path between Albertville and Annecy so no biking on busy roads. there are maybe up to 20 passes easily doable from there.

 

[masking_agent]

dave,
thanks for the advice. Yes, I will be staying in the Alps and ending my vacation in Nice. I don't plan on riding through Briancon. I just plan on staying there in a cheap hotel, motel or hostel. I am hoping to drive out to the base of these climbs ride them, then head back. I'm not riding through the towns , dealing with traffic etc. etc.. I'm hoping to only have 70km -80km days max.

 

[Fausto's Schnauzer]

Don't miss...

the Tourmalet! Alpe de Huez is great but part of the mystique of that one is doing it on race day when there are a few hundred thousand spectators. The Tourmalet has a better pay-off....the descent down the other side toward Luz Ardiden makes every pedal stroke of climbing wothwhile!

 

[straydog]

Actually, if you are there for three weeks I think you can manage both the Alps and Pyrenees. As has been pointed out you can do a lot of the classics on the same day, in fact most people do. As long as you plan your route and head in one direction, say from east to west to end in Nice, you should be fine.

And don't over look the Alpes Maritimes while you are there. You can do Col D'eze (where Paris Nice used to finish) and Col de la Madone on the same ride. The latter is fun, even though it has never featured in a tour, it is possibly the most famous training ride on most french based riders itinerary. Most days during spring you will bump into the likes of someone like Vino, or Renshaw, you know who etc etc. Just make sure you go up it from mentou and not directly after Col D'eze.

It really is a good one to end on.

There's also loads out of Monaco.

If you do just pick one place before Nice, I would probably go for the Alpes.

Bear in mind when in September you go. Too early and it can still be pretty hot, too late and unfortunately it does tend to rain a fair bit.

I have loads of Route Maps, and might even see you out there. I will be the deceptively slow one pretending that my brake pads are rubbing every twenty metres.

Have fun, and if I am there I will try to remember to pm you. I would be happy to show you some routes.

Sorry, just to add....personally

Ventoux is number 1. One of the truly great climbs in the world. Stunning.

Tourmalet 2....though I do have a soft spot for Alpe D'huez (3) even though it isn't particularly killer.

Col De la madone 4....well I am a fanboy after all, but it is just really good fun, and great to compare yourself.

Galibier 5.

 

[Race Radio]

There are also many amazing rides that do not have huge climbs. The area East of Annecy is beautiful. Rochetaillee to Sechilienne then around the massif de Taillefer via the Alpe du Grand Serre, then over the col d'Ornon. The descent down the d'Ornon is amazing.

I also like the Vercors. Amazing riding

 

[bhilden]

What you can do really depends on the mode of transportation between the climbs and your ability/fitness. Will you have a car at your disposal or will you be on a loaded touring bike riding between the climbs?

If you don't have a car, but are in good shape and pretty adventurous you can make a killer trip! I once rode many of the big climbs in the Pyrenees (Aubisque, Luz Ardiden, Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyersourde and Superbagneres) in three days then on the afternoon of day three took a bus to Toulouse then a train to Avignon and climbed Mont Ventoux on the fourth day. I hopped a train at the end of the fourth day and was riding around Lake Como on the fifth day.

Bruce

 

[LugHugger]

If you're intending to finish your trip in Nice, I would thoroughly recommend riding through one of France's geological wonders, the Gorge du Verdon. It's not particularly epic but it's an extraordinary site/sight. Sometimes referred to as France's Grand Canyon. If you ride west to east it's easy to combine this ride with with the roads used in the closing stages of Paris-Nice and the Tour du Haut Var.

 

[Magnus]

I think you should go with alps. Especially is you want to do Ventoux.
I haven't done Luz Ardiden but of the other three you mention i think that

Galibier (north side, from St Michel de Maurienne) > Tourmalet > Alpe d'Huez

I don't think very much of Alpe d'Huez but I'd might feel different if I did it when the TdF is in town or as the final climb of the marmotte. In general I prefer passes over skiing stations.

 

[Throbbobank]

Race Radio - let's not mention the Vercors - its not like there's anything remotely spectacular to see at the top of the Col de La Machine, there's all that traffic and the Grand Goulets are a bit of a let down really......

Can I respectfully suggest two sites that provide really excellent reliable information written by cyclists who give an honest trustworthy opinion given my experience of following their recommendations...

http://www.cycling-challenge.com/

http://www.grenoblecycling.com/index.htm

These also have the benefit of being written by people who, like me, suffer like dogs and can't cruise up those monsters on a 39x21...both are utterly unreliable on their comments on the Vercors though...it really is an avoid, honest, cough....

Finally, Alpe D'Huez - a bit like going to Paris and not going to the Eiffel Tower really, it's just one of those must do climbs, though, I would say if you're in half decent shape it's one that you could knock off in the morning leaving another col for the afternoon or combine with a longer route....finally, since the times up the Alpe by the pro riders are quite easily locatable you get a genuine feel for just how fast those boys get up it as well as giving you the opportunity to brag on your next club run on your return that "Statistically, I can prove I'm exactly 63% as good as Alberto Contador" lol

 

[bicycles_rule]

alps are great, but i've never seen pyrenees. Alpe d'Huez is really worth it, you can actually get some cheers from spectators who are already present if you do it a few days before the tour comes by, which is awesome (get in some shape for that, they're picky ). it's also a nice smooth climb where i could really turn a gear higher than at harder climbs.

telegraphe-galibier is cool too, really long, nice landscape. i guess you ought to do it from both sides, looking at this years tour. croix de fer, same thing, but watch where you're going. madeleine is also great. iseran is the hardest, probably. these are the ones i did...

but really i can't help you decide whether to not do tourmalet....but i would say one thing: there is only one right time to do this and that is as close as possible to when the tour comes by. so if possible you should reschedule. if not, go and come back another year...

 

[Race Radio]

Race Radio - let's not mention the Vercors - its not like there's anything remotely spectacular to see at the top of the Col de La Machine, there's all that traffic and the Grand Goulets are a bit of a let down really......

Can I respectfully suggest two sites that provide really excellent reliable information written by cyclists who give an honest trustworthy opinion given my experience of following their recommendations...

http://www.cycling-challenge.com/

http://www.grenoblecycling.com/index.htm

These also have the benefit of being written by people who, like me, suffer like dogs and can't cruise up those monsters on a 39x21...both are utterly unreliable on their comments on the Vercors though...it really is an avoid, honest, cough....

Finally, Alpe D'Huez - a bit like going to Paris and not going to the Eiffel Tower really, it's just one of those must do climbs, though, I would say if you're in half decent shape it's one that you could knock off in the morning leaving another col for the afternoon or combine with a longer route....finally, since the times up the Alpe by the pro riders are quite easily locatable you get a genuine feel for just how fast those boys get up it as well as giving you the opportunity to brag on your next club run on your return that "Statistically, I can prove I'm exactly 63% as good as Alberto Contador" lol

So true, thanks for the correct. The Vercors should absolutely be passed up. I bet they do not even have a McDonald's

+ 1 on the Grenoble Cycling. Russell is cool guy, and good rider, who has really put a lot of effort into building that is the handbook for the area.

 

[Throbbobank]

So true, thanks for the correct. The Vercors should absolutely be passed up. I bet they do not even have a McDonald's

+ 1 on the Grenoble Cycling. Russell is cool guy, and good rider, who has really put a lot of effort into building that is the handbook for the area.

There's a nice pizza place in Autrans but it doesn't do a Meat Feast which is a major downer when you've struggled up to La Moliere and back

personally, I will therefore be avoiding http://www.sportcommunication.info/web2010/epreuve2.php?langue=1&trophee=57 this year

When that region wakes up to the modern world and starts to get some Golden Arches going I might, possibly, return

 

[Race Radio]

There's a nice pizza place in Autrans but it doesn't do a Meat Feast which is a major downer when you've struggled up to La Moliere and back

personally, I will therefore be avoiding http://www.sportcommunication.info/web2010/epreuve2.php?langue=1&trophee=57 this year

When that region wakes up to the modern world and starts to get some Golden Arches going I might, possibly, return

There is a very good chance I will be dragged, kicking and screaming, to that event as well this year.

I have indeed been able to find Golden Arches in the Vercors,

 

[profff]

if you stay in briancon, you have plenty of cols to do.
if you stay there 1 week you can do:
-izoard round trip: from briancon , go to guillestre ( national road, some traffic, some up and down, very often aginst the wind) turn left at guillestre, direction vallee du queyras, then take the izoard ( the right side,, the hystorical one) pray on the steep part at arvieux, go through the casse deserte, wonderful, have a rest on the top, look at coppi and bobet memorials, have a snack at the refuge napoleon, than downhill to briancon, about 90km, wonderful.
- galibier through lautaret: climb the lautaret col, very easy, national road, quite busy traffic, but the road is large,about 4% average, very easy, at col the lautaret, turn right, take the beautiful climb (6km, hard)to the galibier. this the road the tour is doing this year. the other side of galibier, the one with the telegraphe, the classic one, starts from st jean de mauriene,. to reach st jean de maurienne from briancon you have to drive through italy, cross the freyus tunnel ( pay toll) and if nobody is driving your car back it is impossible to do rountrip by bike. aniway the climb is beautiful , very long and demanding and definitely worth the trip..
still.from briancon:
-col du granon, very close to briancon, very hard and steepclimb (10% average on 10km), where hinault destroyed everybody in ITT, beautiful. it starts from monetier, 5 km from briancon. you have to do it.
-roundtrip: start from briancon, ascend the col the monginevre, go in italy, downhill to cesana( some tunnels) take direction oulx, than turn left to bardonecchia, 3% for 15km, than take col de l' echelle (colle della scala in italian) short and beautiful climb, go down in the wonderful claree valley than back to briancon, about 80km.
-izoard from the side of briancon.
from briancon by car:
-alpe d'huez ( it is impossible to go to rome without seeing the pope..)
-drive to oulx in italy (30km) take the bike, direction susa, go downhill to susa, turn right direction meana and ascend the wonderful climb of colle delle finestre, last 8km sterrato. the giro will be decided there, this year.. pass the col, in wonderful scenary, than go downhill and ascend to sestriere, , to repeat the arrival of the stage. it will be hard, not because of the road, but, after finestre, everything will be demanding. from sestriere , descent to cesana and than to oulx. beautiful roundtrip, very hard, unique chance to climb the finestre this year, on the strada bianca. IT WILL BE IN GOOD CONDITION, BECAUSE OF THE GIRO.DO NOT GO IF IT IS RAINING, IMPOSSIBLE TO CLIMB THE STEEPEST PART IN THE MUD WITH ROAD BIKE.

from briancon, take your car, go to guillestre, cross the col de var and descebd to barcelonette-
you can spend some days here. you will have in 20km three beatiful climbs over 2000m, all historical cols of the tour, to do up and down: col de cayoulle, col d' allos,both beatiful alpine scenary and especially , from jausiers, col de la bonette, 2875m, the highest alpine road. very demanding, beautiful climb.
from there you can drive down to the seaside, to nice where you will find the col de la madone ( brautiful scenary, ridiculous in terms of difficulty in comparisons to what you have done yet. do not forget the hardest and long col the turini ) easier for you to take the side from l' escarene and peyracava, . up, just climb 4km more, to do le circuit de l' authion . if it is a beautiful day, you will see the sea from 2000m-

than drive from nioce to provence ( 2,5 hours drive by highway) and ascend the wonderful ventoux. first the beziers side, the best, the classic one.

than .if you are still alive, take a breath and a rest.

ciao

 

[Bike Boy]

a lot of experinced advice in this thread I have to say. Suddenly I feel like I can't contribute with very much. But I will say this, Combining the alps with Ventoux is very durable an something I will strongely recommend. I have only done Verbier, Alpe D'huez and Ventoux, but I loved it and after reading about experiences from other posters I'm hungry for more.

When I did Ventoux it was afternoon 36 degrees in the forest, I don't have any problems with heat but it was a little bit extreme. I guees it will be more human conditions in september, otherwise I will recomend going before noon.
Regardless of the weather, when you've made it to the top, do your self a favour, take a long moment to enjoy the view and the feeling of accomplishment.

 

[masking_agent]

proff- wow ! thanks for the in depth advice. I will print it off and use it as a guide for sure.

 

[masking_agent]

I've read on two sites now where riders were denied access to riding up certain Cols. They were asked to dismount and walk by Gendarmes and others were not even allowed to ride up Cols in the Alps. I ceratinly hope this is not a regular occurrence come first to second week of Sept ? Anyone get turned back ? I would hate to go all that way only to get turned back ? I assume you get denied access due to adverse weather conditions on the roads ?

 

[Throbbobank]

Profff - thank you so much for that excellent input, it has made me want to consider a cycling trip based from Briancon rather than Grenoble as I usually do

As to the Gendarmes - well I have never heard of that, these are, after all, major or minor roads open to traffic though do not forget that the Cols may well be closed due to weather from October, the Col de Sarenne from late September sometimes, so depending on when you get there it's a risk....personally, I'd obey them walk with the bike for a bit, round a corner til out of sight and then jump back on!

Race Radio - I'll put a post on closer to the Challenge Vercors and we can perhaps get a glass or two in after!