Col du Petit St-Bernard

russell_in_france

Spring has been cool and grey in the French Alps, but finally the high passes are starting to open now. Yesterday morning I climbed to the 2188 metre Col du Petit St-Bernard above Bourg-St-Maurice, with still impressive amounts of snow next to the road.















Galibier and Iseran should be opening in the next days from what I've read.

Cheers, Russell

Dorset_Boy

Saw that from another rider I follow who went over it at the end of last week.
Was a very snowy end to the ski season this year.

russell_in_france

Thanks, guys. It's the climb that is often more impressive than higher roads, as the snow stays on the north side of the mountain.

The photos or video don't capture the strong and cold headwind over the last few kilometres, so I did feel chilled by the time I started down. 60 kilometre ride, 30 up, and 30 down again.

I took a little GoPro video.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=CvBR8t2C9rs

Cheers, Russell

amrushton

One of my favourite climbs. lovely from both sides, bit easier from Bourg. Jens famously crashed on that descent and was in a come for a couple of days.

pep.fermi

Wonderful pics thanks for posting.
My only big climbs 2023 will be Bondone, while staying at mum's in Riva del garda, and the Grossglockner on our way back.
I should make it to France sometimes too.

Dorset_Boy

russell_in_france said:

Thanks, guys. It's the climb that is often more impressive than higher roads, as the snow stays on the north side of the mountain.

The photos or video don't capture the strong and cold headwind over the last few kilometres, so I did feel chilled by the time I started down. 60 kilometre ride, 30 up, and 30 down again.

I took a little GoPro video.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=CvBR8t2C9rs

Cheers, Russell

Did you do the TdF route with the pink road, or the 'main road'? I've done both and the TdF section is pretty tough from Montvalezan back to the main road.

Nice on the other side down to La Thuile for lunch and then back up and over.

molteni_man

On the pink road on a scorchio day!
The snow is super impressive on the Col itself in the earlier pics!

kingstongraham

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

Dorset_Boy