The French Alps

We travel on the first day. We leave early in the morning to arrive at our accommodation in Barcelonette after a 12-13 hour journey. We check in and prepare the bikes. If we get there in time, we can still ride a short distance (Serre-Ponçon reservoir.)

The French advertise the Bonette Pass as the highest paved road in Europe and as the highest pass, but neither is true. The end of the Bonette is at 2802 m, but the pass is only at 2715 m, so they built a loop that takes you up to 2802. It is higher than the Stelvio, but lower than the Veleta. But regardless, the point is that the end is so high that we rarely ride that high. The data: 23 km, elevation gain approx. 1600 m. It is not an easy climb, because it is long and constantly 7-8%, there is no rest. But there is no major swing, the constant gradient gives a sense of security. At the end there are 10-12%. However, it is very varied, beautiful and wildly romantic throughout. Distance: 130 km, elevation gain: approx. 2400 m. Difficulty: 4/5.

Planned time: 6 hours.

You probably haven’t even heard of these 3 passes. But it could easily be one of the most beautiful and spectacular laps of your life. The Cayolle is beautiful, the first half takes you through a gorge, it really goes there all the way, but it widens out at the end. It’s not a very difficult pass, it goes up to 2326 in 23km, so the average is not terrible. The descent on the south side is gorgeous. The Champs is the hardest on the lap, 13km with 1000m of elevation, the beginning is boring, but the end is fantastic, the last 5km of serpentines are breathtaking, but difficult, 8-10% average km. The first 10km of Allos is boring and soul-crushing 5-6%, but then we turn onto the serpentines and from there it’s lovely. It goes up to 2250, but overall it’s not terrible. The descent of the north side of Allos to Barcelonnette will be the highlight of the day, unbeatable in terms of views, but also a grand prize as a slope.

Distance: 120km, elevation gain: approx. 3300 m. Difficulty: 5/5. Planned time: 10 hours.

On this day we move to Briançon.

The Galibier from Briançon is 70km round trip, we climbed from 1200 to 2645. The Galibier is a beautiful pass, wide spaces, colorful rocks, glaciers and excellent serpentines! You rarely see such an overall picture! The first 20km are breathtaking 2-4%, on a relatively busy road, not very interesting, then after the Lauteret pass (2084m) it is wonderful. The end is tough, but the view made up for everything! On the way home, we could team up for 30km on 4-6%! Distance: 72km, elevation gain: about 1500 m. Difficulty: 4/5. Planned time: 10 hours.

There are average passes, beautiful passes, difficult passes, Izoard is the special pass. And a difficult pass. Its special feature is the rock towers, which are mainly located on the last kilometers of the southern ramp. The whole landscape is as if you are on an alien planet. And it’s hard, because the last 8 km (from Cerviéres) are 8-10% all the way, sometimes 11-12%. We’re going up from the north, in the classic direction, because that’s what the circuit says. Beyond the pass, there will be two bigger surprises. One is the Guil canyon leading to Guillestre. Cycling through the depths of several hundred meters is scary, but it’s crazy good. The other is the mountain road leading from Guillestre to Briançon, with beautiful views. By the way, we’ll gain about 900 of the 2000m elevation gain in those 40km. Distance: 95km, elevation gain: about 2200m.

Difficulty: 5/5. Planned time: 10 hours.

On our last day, we target to the most iconic pass in the area, and perhaps in all of France. Alpe d’Huez needs no introduction, 21 bends, 1100m elevation gain over 13 km (8.1%), a permanent venue of the Tour and more. We drive to the Lauteret Pass in Brianco, from there we get into the saddle. We go around Huez. The surroundings on the way there are quite beautiful, the Meije peak (3984m) is visible with the glaciers, it is beautiful. The area around Lauteret is quite beautiful, the pass itself is insignificant, but the view of the surrounding mountains is amazing. The road after the Chambon reservoir is equally beautiful. Huez is a pretty tough pass. The first 2 km starts at 10-12%, the middle lets it go “a little”, to about 8-9%, then almost all the way to 8-9, the end, it doesn’t let up at the ski resort. It’s not easy. Then comes the surprise. From Huez we come back towards the Sarenne Pass (1999m), we reached it with a pretty tough 12-13% uphill. Then we turn right and the valley opens up, with such a wonderful view of the distant mountains and glaciers on them that there are no words for it. Then we go down to the Chambon reservoir and on the way back we go around the Lauteret Pass from the other side. A beautiful circuit, with tough climbs, magnificent views. Distance: 95km, elevation gain: about 2900 m.

Difficulty: 5/5. Planned time: 10 hours.

Last day, we travel home.