Three Peaks - France - suggestions

secretsam

Right: I'm thinking of setting up a "three peaks" in France, riding one iconic climb each in the Alps and Pyrenees, plus Mt Ventoux.
Any suggestions on which climbs (I'd assumed Alpe D'Huez being one obvious candidate), tips, places to stay, etc?
Might do it for charidee with work chums.

pblakeney

It comes down to personal preferences.
Alpe D'Huez is nothing too special unless being raced with thousands of fans imo.
Galibier or Croix der Fer would be my Alps choices but I've not done the Southern Alps.
Luz Ardiden was my favourite Pyrenean climb but the Tourmalet is more iconic.
They are next door, do them both. 😉
All opinions will be determined by the weather on the day too.

Figure out the climbs, then the accommodation.

elbowloh

As PB says, Tourmalet in the Pyrenees is the one people will be attracted to.

kingstongraham

Tourmalet from Luz, Galibier via Telegraphe and Ventoux from Bedoin.

thegreatdivide

Galibier via Telegraphe is the one for sure.

kingstongraham

Whatever you do, don't do the other side of Tourmalet as your only climb up it. The La Mongie side of Tourmalet is rank, whereas the Luz side is sublime.

davidof

Galibier... bof bof. Boring long drag through Val Morel. Most of the big French alpine mountain passes are a bit boring tbh, designed more for cars and motorbikes than bikes.

Izoard is okay.

Madeleine not bad on the north side climb.

Cormet de Roselend via the Col du Pre


or the Cormet d’Arêches :-)

secretsam

davidof said:

Galibier... bof bof. Boring long drag through Val Morel. Most of the big French alpine mountain passes are a bit boring tbh, designed more for cars and motorbikes than bikes.

Surely all mountain passes are designed for cars (etc.) rather than bikes???!

secretsam

Crumbs, hadn't realised that between Galibier and Tourmalet, via Ventoux, was nearly 800km!!!

Dorset_Boy

I didn't realise Valmorel had been moved, last time I looked it was next to the Madeleine on the north side.

Telegraphe & Galibier combo is a superb climb.

kingstongraham

davidof said:

Galibier... bof bof. Boring long drag through Val Morel. Most of the big French alpine mountain passes are a bit boring tbh, designed more for cars and motorbikes than bikes.

Izoard is okay.

Madeleine not bad on the north side climb.

Cormet de Roselend via the Col du Pre


or the Cormet d’Arêches :-)

Question was not "which climb do you like".

But...

secretsam

kingstongraham said:

Question was not "which climb do you like".

But...

But?

kingstongraham

secretsam said:

kingstongraham said:

Question was not "which climb do you like".

But...

But?

Galibier - I think it looks OK.

pblakeney

kingstongraham said:

Izoard is okay.

Good call!
A bit understated though, it is considerably more than okay.

Edit for correction - I was thinking of the Col de l'Iseran. Izoard may just be okay.

briantrumpet

Col de la Bonette's not bad either - if you do both sides it's about 11,000ft of climbing in 60 miles from Jausiers.

https://unanglaisendiois.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/col-de-la-bonette/