The best of Alpine cycling can be found in our valley with its mythical climbs to ski-resorts, charming mountain villages and famous cols.
Famous ski-resorts and mountain villages
Alpe d’Huez is a relatively short but difficult climb. The first few kilometers are the steepest and therefore immediately decisive for the rest of your climb: you cycle yourself here over the head, you still have heavy kilometers to the top ahead. The summit of the Alpe d’Huez has a height of 1860 meters. From the village of Bourg d’Oisans you deduct 1061 altitude meters. The average gradient is 7.9% with the steepest 11% at the start. The climb consists of 21 hairpin bends.
53% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The real Les Deux Alpes climb (as indicated here) starts at Lac Chambon, where you turn away from the climb to the Lautaret. This climb is already steep, but the climb to Les Deux Alpes is even steeper. On a good road you drive up a few hairpin curves. The view of the Chambon lake is very nice in the first part of the climb. The real work, although it was already quite steep. Begins after Mont de Lans, from here you even have a kilometer of around 13%. Bikkelen so. And up to the top it continues to work. Unlike the Alpe d’Huez you can descend this mountain only by the way you came. A nice and not too difficult descent. All in all a wonderful climb where you ride a lot more quietly than on the Alpe d’Huez with all those thousands of cyclists.
40% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The climb to Auris and Oisans is a lot less famous than the adjacent climbs like the Alpe d’Huez and the Galibier. That makes it easy to cycle here. You cycle in a beautiful mountain landscape. You have a great view of the valley towards Les Deux Alpes and a bit higher also towards the glaciers of la Grave and the Meije. The view is more beautiful on this climb than on the famous Alpe d’Huez. Furthermore, it is much quieter here that makes climbing more pleasant. Do not miss the altitude profile because you have to come to the beginning of this climb, and that is either via Bourg d’Oisans (first part of the climb of the Lautaret) or you have to turn if you descend from the Lautaret, Sarenne or Les Deux Alpes. You do not just come here, but you get a great climb in return!
14% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The Col du Chaussy is certainly not the most famous climb from the Maurienne valley. That is very unfortunate because this is perhaps one of the most beautiful climbs from this valley. Everyone who drives through the Maurienne valley will see the hairpin bends to the village of Montvernier, cyclists in any case. 18 turns that were literally chopped out of the mountain. This very photogenic road was built between 1928 and 1934! Probably this is the most spectacular road of the Savoy, with not even such absurd growth rates.
The ascent starts right away, from Pontamafrey you immediately drive into the hairpin bends of the ‘Les Lacets de Montvernier’. 18 turns long your curve after bend up. Once 400 meters higher, in the village of Montvernier you drive towards Montpascal through a beautiful forest. Only a few not too steep kilometers bring you to a plateau where you have a fantastic view!
Since 2012 the descent towards Montaimont has been paved and it is possible to ride this col in a ‘boucle’, for the strongest cyclists together with the Madeleine, a very nice day that way!
44% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
La Bérarde is the ‘secret tip’ for everyone who is Bourg D’Oisans. secret tip is of course a big word next to such a cycling village as Bourg D’Oisans.
35% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
This climb is impressive both steep and landscape. You need a helmet here, not only for the risk of falling but also for possible falling rocks from the rock walls next to the road. This impressive road is not too long but very steep. Ideal for aggressive climbers. In the descent you have to pay attention because missing a curve is really out of the question …
On this climb it is difficult to find a good rhythm because the slopes vary quite a bit. This makes the climb even more difficult than it already is in terms of sheer steepness. An ascent for real mountain goats!
51% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The climb of the Col d’Oz is 7.3 kilometers long and bridges with an average gradient of 7.7% a height difference of 567 meters. The climb is in the Bourg d’Oisans sector in the French Alps, France. With a steepest stretch of 12.1%, this climb scores 596 climbing points.
Spectacular Cols from the Tour de France
In addition, in the immediate vicinity of Chalet Carpe Diem you will find the most famous and most spectacular climbs of the Tour de France, including:
33% plus difficile que l’Alpe d’Huez!
This is a great climb, the difficulty is rising slowly so do not throw your guns too quickly. The road is not too good but fine to ride with the road bike. A rather unknown col, but spicier (and more beautiful?) Than the adjacent Croix de Fer. On this col you are only in a great mountain landscape. Fortunately they still exist this kind of unknown mountain cols!
This climb can be divided into three parts. The first part ‘false flat’ of about 4% to the reservoir. You have a rest next to the reservoir. After this you will leave the hordes of cyclists going towards the Croix de Fer behind you and turn towards Vaujauny. Here there is still about 10 kilometers for 1000 altitude meters. The sum was quickly made … on average 10%
The descent is not easy due to the moderate road surface. Caution is required. But the climb is definitely worth it!
25% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The Col de La Morte is located on the Route Nationale which runs between Grenoble and Bourg D’Oisans. This National is anything but a nice road for cycling, very busy and especially French young people drive hard here. But if you turn off in Sechilienne, direction Alpe de Grand Serre, a ski area, then you have the road as good as yourself and you drive over a fantastic asphalt up to a small ski area which is on the col itself. More than worth it.
The road lies between the trees that provide shade, and with beautiful hairpin turns this road winds up, nowhere flat but also nowhere really steep. If you want to climb more, it is possible to drive to the Lac du Poursollet, a beautiful and challenging climb. It is also possible to ride this col as a ’round’ and drive back via the other side over the Col de Malissol to Vizille, a rather long and fun trip.
1% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The Col du Granon is unknown to almost anyone, yet this col has an impressive cycling history. No less than Hinault lost his last worn yellow sweater here. This fact probably says enough about the heaviness of this suit. But apart from this cycling history, this is perhaps the best suit next to Briançon and that is something to say because the competition is heavy. Whoever loves the real suffering on the bike is all right on this steep climb.
From Briançon you have it steep in terms of steepness but not in terms of cars because you drive on the Route National to Grenoble. Once at Saint Chaffrey it is fortunately a lot quieter. A large (false flat) kilometer through the village brings you at the beginning of the climb. From that moment it is steep, extremely steep. When you enter Villard Late, you do not believe your eyes are so steeply the road suddenly pops up. You have the idea to sit in the Ardennes. But here the climb goes for ten kilometers. Ten kilometers between 9 and a large 11 percent. Powerful cyclists with a long breath here have the day of their lives, for all others they will be forbidden.
You would think that this road gradually goes up, but nothing is less true. The Granon is a paved track. So steep walls alternate with still steep between pieces. You will never get peace in this whole climb. The road that goes up is brilliantly good, this road is closed all winter and only opens when the snow has melted itself (around the beginning of June). This col does not suffer from the great temperature differences in the winter. The fact that large snow shovels do not drive the road certainly also helps.
22% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The climb of the Col du Glandon is 25.6 kilometers long and bridges with an average gradient of 4.6% a difference in altitude of 1189 meters. The climb is in the Bourg d’Oisans sector in the French Alps, France. With a steepest stretch of 8.9%, this climb scores 950 climbing points.
61% more difficult than the Alpe d’Huez.
Like many cols, the Galibier can be climbed from two sides. But actually there is only one real Galibier and that is the side from the Maurienne valley, then you also take the Telegraphe. A col that should not be called a col, because in our eyes it is just a part of the Galibier. The Galibier lies on the dividing line between the northern Savoie and the Southern Hautes Alpes in France. That is also clearly visible. On the Valloire side in the Savoie there is a lot of green, pine trees grow and it is often cool and wet. On the other hand, it is warmer, the grass often arid and are larches that fill the forests. The view from the col towards the Oisans is dazzlingly beautiful. But also towards the Savoie is the view to never forget with the giant Mont Blanc in the background.
Many cyclists see Valloire as the starting point for the climb towards the high Galibier. But real cyclists take the course from the valley, of course. Immediately it is clear that it is serious. It is immediately steep. It remains steep for the whole climb. You have just a breath after the so-called Telegraphe. After the village of Valloire it gets heavier. Especially mentally. Because you have the idea that the road is still flat but that your pedals no longer want to turn around. You turn over the often green valley over a bridge. From there it all looks very logical. It does not look very steep until those deadly steep curves to get to the top. But why does not it succeed to drive a nice pace? Simple, because it is already quite steep.
The Galibier is a col that really drains you. You can not hide behind. On average this climb reaches a steep of 7% and that over almost 18 kilometers (only from Valloire). It is wise to use your powers well, because it becomes heavy, you can be sure of that. Very heavy.
Where in Valloire it is often very hot, there you pick up the cold wind from the Savoie. An extra jacket can not hurt even in the summer. Also make sure you refill your water bottles in Valloire because once you leave this village you will only encounter a single farm and some sheep herds. With the exception of the river you have no options to top up your water bottle.
The last kilometers to the col are really heavy. You will feel the altitude and the steepness well, the barren moonscape does not make things more cheerful. There is little else in those last kilometers than by buffering. Once you are upstairs, you have done well again. The Galibier is in the bag.
11% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The ascent of the Col de la Croix-de-Fer is 28 kilometers long and bridges a height difference of 1337 meters with an average gradient of 4.8%. The climb is in the Bourg d’Oisans sector in the French Alps, France. With a steepest part of 9.3%, this climb scores 1083 climbing points.
18% makkelijker dan de Alpe d’Huez.
Hoe zet je een klim in een keer op de kaart? Een klim die eigenlijk nielmand buiten wielrenners kent? Nou, je doet deze klim met een slecht wegdek in de Tour De France op de dag dat de beroemde Alpe d’Huez twee keer wordt gereden. Omdat deze Alpe d’Huez twee keer wordt gereden moet je ergens naar beneden en dat kan via de Col de Sarenne, bekend bij locals en fietsfanaten die rustige wegen zoeken rond Bourg d’Oisans, maar verder totaal onbekend. Laat dan ook een paar profs zich uitspreken dat deze col gelijkstaat aan zelfmoord en de col staat op de kaart.
De Col de Sarenne staat bekend om het mooie klimmen, de onaangetaste natuur en het slechte wegdek, vooral tijdens de afdaling. Aan dit wegdek zou in 2013 wat gedaan worden voordat de tour langs kwam, maar lokale natuurbewegingen staken daar een stokje voor, alleen de allerslechtste delen van de weg werden verbeterd. Sowieso waren de natuurbewegingen ‘not pleased’ bij het feit dat de tour over de Col de Sarenne heen gaat, handtekeningen acties werden gehouden en er werd zelfs gedreigd met het blokkeren van de weg voor de Tour de France. Dit geeft wel aan hoe mooi de natuur rondom deze Col de Sarenne is, bijzonder eigenlijk want deze col ligt letterlijk op steenworp afstand van het grote skigebied van Alpe d’Huez.
Maar tot zover over de Tour, want als de karavaan is weggetrokken blijft er mooie smalle en leuke weg over. Heerlijk klimmen ver weg van het gedruis op de Alpe d’Huez. De klim begint bij een duidelijke en steile afslag naast een absurd verroest gebouw, net boven een grote waterval. Boven het Lac du Chambon gaat de weg meteen steil omhoog. Al genietend van het uitzicht op het meer rijd je omhoog. Sinds 2010 is dit meer trouwens niet meer vol geweest omdat er ernstige mankementen aan de dam waren geconstateerd en het laat zich raden wat er zou gebeuren als deze dam breken, dan zouden waarschijnlijk zelfs de inwoners van Grenoble natte voeten krijgen, en Bourg d’Oisans zou gewoon wegspoelen. In 2012 is men begonnen met het opknappen van deze dam.
Na de eerste meters, tot aan het dorpje Mizoen, is het steil, daarna loopt het terug, om even het zuur uit je benen te trappen. Maar vanaf kilometer 3 is het weer goed raak. Steiler en steiler wordt het. Zonder echt bochtenwerk is het doorhalen naar boven, over een smalle maar mooie weg. Pas bij La Perron krijg je wat echte bochten waar je naar toe kunt werken. Vanaf daar rij je ook het echte hooggebergte in. Kijk niet raar op als je marmotten, gemzen of steenbokken ziet, en die grote vogel boven je? Dat zou zomaar een arend kunnen zijn. Hoe groot is het verschil niet als je daarna richting Alpe d’Huez afdaalt en weer in ‘moderne’ wereld terechtkomt met de skiliften, de hoogbouw en de vele auto’s.
19% easier than the Alpe d’Huez.
The climb of the Col du Lautaret is 32.3 kilometers long and bridges with an average gradient of 4% a difference in height of 1297 meters. The climb is in the Bourg d’Oisans sector in the French Alps, France. With a steepest stretch of 6.9% this climb scores 986 points.
The owner of Chalet Carpe Diem is also a cycling enthusiast and will share his knowledge of the surrounding mountain passes in the French Alps, and also the Swiss and Italian Alps.
Do not hesitate to ask him for any further information.
Hikers and nature lovers
For hikers and nature lovers, Bourg d’Oisans proposes crystal clear lakes, streams, rivers and waterfalls. Take the time to enjoy and admire the spectacular panoramas and try to spot chamois and marmottes. Interesting surrounding towns and villages to visit such as Briançon (70kms) or Grenoble (50kms) take about one hour car journey.
Hiking in Oisans
Discover the unusual landscapes with prestigious summits (La Meije 3983m, La Barre des Ecrins 4102m), large plateaus, green valleys, numerous glaciers, lakes and other waterfalls … Located in the heart of the Oisans area, the “Parc National des Ecrins” “also offers an extremely varied fauna and flora.
Mountain huts in Oisans
Simple living place, the mountain hut is a high altitude house with more difficulties than in the valley, so the refuge does not offer the comfort. The guard “organizes” the life of housing: distribution of clogs, couchettes, meals, breakfast, alarm clock … For safety reasons and for their organization, you inform him about your walking or racing goal the next day.
