Col du Petit St Bernard and Colle San Carlo

russell_in_france
russell_in_france Posts: 120
edited September 2013 in Tour & expedition
https://plus.google.com/photos/111059783111780167010/albums/5890137879937218657?banner=pwa

This year, the winter was long, cold and dumped huge amounts of snow on the Alps, and a number of the passes are still closed. I wanted to see some of the snow and for my first ride in the high Alps, I wanted to ride a loop I’d ridden 15 years ago and not been back since.

I left home early and I rode from Bourg St Maurice over the 2188m Col du Petit St Bernard before descending into Italy. My second climb was the 1950m Colle San Carlo, before descending and rejoining the eastern side of the Col du Petit St Bernard again. The Petit St Bernard is long, around 30 kilometres from Bourg St Maurice, but at an average of 5%. The Colle San Carlo is only 10 kilometres in length but averages 10% with some stretches at 13%. Trees provide cover for the majority of the climb.

I recommend the loop. 120km with just over 3,000 metres of climb, and very nice views including towards the Mont Blanc.

For a map and profile.

http://app.strava.com/activities/60689602

Cheers, Russell
http://www.grenoblecycling.com

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