French Alps - where to go

Nevis2

Heading Alps early July for about a week to cycle & acclimatise to heat before Etape du tour, and looking for a new area to explore. Have cycled routes around Bourg d'Oisans, Maurienne valley &along to Cenis etc, Annecy, Briancon, Bourg st Maurice, and Beaufort areas, so just wondering if anyone can recommend some new pastures. Was perhaps thinking about the patch west & south of Grenoble -anyone been there? Any suggestions welcome!

ugo.santalucia

Annecy... it's a lovely town where you can spend some quality time off the bike. You can do a flat loop around the lake or you can takle one or more of the cols around... the Cret De Chatillon and the Col de la Forclaz are probably the most famous

craigus89

Seconded. Also the Croix Fry is a good climb close by, along with the Col des Aravis and the Colombiere is not far either. Beautiful place too.

mercia_man

Annecy, Aravis, Croix Fry etc are lovely cycling areas but it sounds like OP has already ridden in that area.

For something new, I would suggest the Chartreuse north of Grenoble and the Vercors south west of Grenoble. Both are compact, beautiful mountain areas with good scope for trying out your climbing legs. Another nearby area that I like is the Bauges, east of Chambery. There's also a couple of good climbs to the west of Chambery over the Mont du Chat.

For some really big climbs up 2,000-metre-plus passes like the Allos, Cayolle and Bonette, the southern Alps are wonderful. And the weather is normally hotter and dryer than the northern Alps.

ronnierocket

I am a big fan of the Les Gets/Morzine area.

Big climbs in the area include the Col de Joux Plan, Col De Ramaz, Col De Colombiere plus lots of other nice but maybe less known, eg. Col de Joux Verte, Avoriaz climb, col de corbier and many others.

This is a lovely area and both towsn are very nice. You would be able to pick up a nice chalet for the week for cheap. Also, I have stayed with these guys a few times if you want catered chalet. They are flexible on days and would pick you up from the airport. I have used them for long weekends to do the Morzine sportive.

http://www.ridersrefuge.co.uk/

ronnierocket

Note.

This is on July 9th in Cluses near Les Gets. I am doing it this year, did it a couple of years ago. Very well organised, all junctions manned meaning you don't have to stop and only £35 including a jersey and bidon!

http://www.cyclo-jpp.com/

Nevis2

Thanks very much for all replies & info, & even the sportive warm-up on 9th The Vercors south west of Grenoble sounds good as it would be a completely new area - have been following the roads on google earth, also trying to pick an interesting looking town or village as a base. I guess the only problem is too much choice

sheffsimon

Nevis2 wrote:

Heading Alps early July for about a week to cycle & acclimatise to heat before Etape du tour, and looking for a new area to explore. Have cycled routes around Bourg d'Oisans, Maurienne valley &along to Cenis etc, Annecy, Briancon, Bourg st Maurice, and Beaufort areas, so just wondering if anyone can recommend some new pastures. Was perhaps thinking about the patch west & south of Grenoble -anyone been there? Any suggestions welcome!

We stayed in Barcelonette in the southern Alps last year. Fantastic location for some epic cols- Vars, Allos, Champs, Cayolle, Bonette, Larche, and lots of other climbs to ski stations, Pra Loup, Super Sauze.

Barcelonette is a nice little town with a lively central square full of restaurants. Bit of effort to get there, it's about 4 hours drive from Geneva Apt from memory. We were there in mid-June, and it was very warm. All the climbs were very quiet.

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

gavinbay

Nevis 2 I live in Serre Chevalier and have put together these guides, both for road and mtb - as SheffSimon says further South opens up more Cols and rides - some of which are in the road guide, but based in Briancon, and if you have a car, then an hours drive can open up many routes such as Colle del Finestrelle

Though even if you don't have a MTB for one or two days worth renting one as there are some amazing rides to do

Feel free to ask questions
Road Rides
http://www.stylealtitude.com/cycle-rout ... alier.html

MTB
http://www.stylealtitude.com/mtb-vtt-cy ... alier.html

rpherts

Nevis2 wrote:

Thanks very much for all replies & info, & even the sportive warm-up on 9th The Vercors south west of Grenoble sounds good as it would be a completely new area - have been following the roads on google earth, also trying to pick an interesting looking town or village as a base. I guess the only problem is too much choice

Better and more interesting riding in the Vercors in the south and west of the area. The North and east less so, worse quality road surfaces and more traffic.

On some of the climbs there you will barely see another car, really, really quiet.

davidof

Nevis2 wrote:

Thanks very much for all replies & info, & even the sportive warm-up on 9th The Vercors south west of Grenoble sounds good as it would be a completely new area - have been following the roads on google earth, also trying to pick an interesting looking town or village as a base. I guess the only problem is too much choice

Vercors is a good plan, fantastic roads

https://youtu.be/hEjVMl02OHo?list=PL6uv ... G4t6O5UugA

Have a look at Will Cyclist's list of cols to ride . It might inspire you.

http://www.cycling-challenge.com/100-cy ... lpe-dhuez/