Cycling Holiday in Alps

[Lpoolck]

Hello,

I am looking to have a week in Aug/Sept in the French Alps cycling some of the climbs in the area. Obviously want to do the main ones: Alpe d'Huez, Mount Vontoux, Col du Galibier, Col du Telegraphe, Col d'Izoard, Col de la Madeleine, Col de Chaussy and Lacets de Montvernier.

I will drive down, and I am looking at staying at an apartment in Bourg D'Oisans.

I was wondering if anyone could share any good advise (I had read the thread on tips for cycling in France) routes, recommendations on where to visit/go etc whilst I am over there.

Cheers

 

[zealand]

Will check my map on my day off , this is a nice part of the country

 

[Lpoolck]

Cheers @zealand

 

[TheDoctor]

Bourg d'Oisans to Ventoux is a 3 hour drive, which could be an issue. But the Gorge de Nesque is well worth a ride if you do go to Ventoux.

 

[Lpoolck]

Thanks @TheDoctor that Gorge de Nesque looks like a fantastic route. We are planning on going down to do vontoux on one of the days so I will defintely be thinking about cycling the Gorge de Nesque afterwards as it seems a nice relaxing scenic route.

 

[TheDoctor]

Oh, it is. It's spectacular. And deserted.

 

[oldfatfool]

Glandon/ croix de Fer is a nice ride from Allemond, also the col de Sarenne, you can avoid the main road out of Bourg by climbing half way up the Alpe and taking the balcony roads. well worth the extra effort. https://www.strava.com/activities/125594173.

 

[Lpoolck]

Cheers for the route @oldfatfool and the tip on the quieter roads. I have booked up in BourgD'Oisans D'Oisans so this will be a nice loop from there. Which way do you recommend doing the loop?

 

[oldfatfool]

Cheers for the route @oldfatfool and the tip on the quieter roads. I have booked up in BourgD'Oisans D'Oisans so this will be a nice loop from there. Which way do you recommend doing the loop?

From Bourg climb the first 6(?) hairpins of the alpe then take the balcony road and climb the Sarenne. Then descend the Alpe at the end, (it will be up to you if you want to add in the extra loop to Allemond and back, that is were I was camping.) imo descending the Sarenne is too fraught compared to descending the Alpe.
Balcony roads,

[/URL]

Sarennne, worth noting this was taken a few weeks after the TdeF passed so the road had been recently repaired and the rain channels that cross the road covered.

[/URL]

 

[Lpoolck]

Thanks, I was thinking of cutting out the loop to Allemond, unless there was anything of note doing on the way or not.

It seems wise to climb the Sarenne from what you are saying, so I will take that advice! Plus will give you longer to look at the view as you climb it!

Been staring at those photos, and I cannot make up my mind on which view I like the most!

 

[oldfatfool]

If you follow the full loop to Allemond and back you take another balcony road from the town of Huez rather than doing the full alpe descent. This balcony road is quite narrow and precipitous but is spectacular, also the last few km descent into Allemond is on wider more sweeping roads that are 'amusing'.

If you are thinking of doing the Glandon/ croix de Fer (and I would highly recommend it) then you could always climb the Alpe to Huez and take that balcony road to descend to the top of the res at Allemond and the start of the Glandon ascent.

 

[rich p]

That's a nice route but missing out on bagging the Alpe is madness. The descent of the Col de Sarenne is okay with a bit of caution and then do the balcony route back.