Planning an Alps trip
johnoakleyallen
Posts: 83
Looking at making a trip to the alps next summer (possibly round the tour time).
The problem we have is that I doubt anyone will be willing to drive, so all the routes would need to be a circut to end up at the start.
Does anyone have any good suggestions or possible routes we could do?
Planning on going for around a week.
Cheers
The problem we have is that I doubt anyone will be willing to drive, so all the routes would need to be a circut to end up at the start.
Does anyone have any good suggestions or possible routes we could do?
Planning on going for around a week.
Cheers
0
Posts
That's the problem with the Alps - it's quite often hard to put a loop ride together without it being a monster day out! The Marmotte route is a perfect example.
However with a bit of planning you can base yourself in one place and do some great riding.
Bourg d'Oisans is good, you can ride the Galibier from the south, Alpe d'huez and The Col de Sarenne, The Glandon/Croix de Fer and of course the Whole Marmotte route if you're up for it. There's also a great ride up to La Berarde and a fantastic loop ride south past the Alpe de Grand Serre and back over the Col d'Ornon.
Briancon is also good - you can do the Izoard as an 80km loop and The Galibier from the south east. The Montgenevre is a nice easy ride too. You could also try the Col de Granon from Serre Chevalier!!!! used once in the tour.
A little off the beaten track is Barcelonette, my favourite cycling place in The Alps - there's some great riding here including the Col de Bonette, Col de Larche, Pra loup, Col d' Allos, Col de Cayole and the Col de Vars
http://www.veloventoux.com
Check us out on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/6nx8afo
I stayed about 6 miles along from Bourg in Allemont.
Great base for either direction. Also did Le Deux Alpes and there were smaller climbs like Vaujany on the way to Glandon/Croix de Fer etc.
Is it worth moving around to do different routes?
Thinking we might as well head over to the pyrenees!
Could even hire a van and sleep in that for the week!
Another excellent option is Andermatt in Switzerland. There you have climbs like St Gotthard, Nufenen, Susten, Furka and Oberalp waiting for you.
http://veloland.myswitzerland.com/en/orte_detail.cfm?id=329745
Agree tho',a much under visited (by Tour obsessed brits) area.Ace cycling,& food.
You can do the Tourmalet (both ways),the Aubisque (again,both ways)
Hautacam,& luz Ardiden,without needing transport,once you are there
The swiss giants are there to cycle and you can easily combine some of them to a day trip of 100km.
Here are some snowy cycling video's
http://www.cyclingthealps.com/#nufenenpass-video
http://www.cyclingthealps.com/#oberalppass-video
I also stayed in Bourg Saint Maurice to cycle the highest one Col de l'Iseran, Col du Petit St. Bernard, Col du Pre(Very nice one), Cormet de Roselend, Col de la Madeleine and a few more.
If you want to prepare yourself then you can start cycling it online. Have fun (Google Earh needed) http://www.cyclingthealps.com/game/col-de-liseran.html
Cheers
Email me if you are not sorted yet ... [email protected]
I am excited already, this snow makes me yearn for sweating up a col and then dipping in a mountain stream!
Agree, Argeles is fantastic. We stayed with velopeloton in 2009 for the tour. Highly recommended. There are also many other great climbs there such as, Troumouse, Tentes, Pont d'Espagne, Soulor, Coruadque & Cambasque. The 2011 tour will have have 2 stages in Argeles.
Add to his list the Col du Sabot, the Solude, the Granon and the Sommeileur and you'll be utterly exhausted and elated by the end of the week. Remember that one Col is often enough for a day's riding for many UK enthusiasts - certainly the likes of the Sabot and the Galibier really don't leave you asking for more.