Woohoo, this can be a nice route! It has three distinct sections, all of which require thicker tires:
- Briancon to close Col du Lautaret on quiet trails/roads
- The outdated highway on the south facet as much as Galibier
- A secret valley descent of the north facet of Galibier
The spotlight was the ascent of Col du Galibier on the stays of the unique south facet highway. It was changed in 1938 by the much less steeper fashionable highway – they take utterly totally different strains. However the complete route is superb.
1. Briançon to Lautaret
My aim was to keep away from the considerably busy/quick principal highway that highway cyclists are compelled to take. My mapped 27 kilometres stretch labored higher than I hoped, utterly avoiding the principle highway utilizing a collection of trails and small paved/unpaved roads. Even higher, many of the route, particularly as I progressed, was lovely. See particulars on the map at backside.
2. The outdated highway to Col du Galibier
First constructed within the 1880’s, this was the one manner up the south facet till 1938. As greatest I can inform it was deserted/closed in 1947. Which means that between 1911 and 1938 the Tour de France would have climbed or descended this highway over twenty instances. It’s far to the east of the fashionable highway and besides close to the start the 2 routes don’t intersect till the highest close to the Desgranges monument on the entrance of the tunnel (2556 metres).
It’s simple to seek out the outdated highway: it’s intersects the principle highway roughly two kilometres under Col du Lautaret (simply earlier than the paravalanche tunnels). However the climb begins roughly a kilometre under … most likely the steepest stretch. Your entire ascent is shorter and thus steeper than the fashionable highway at roughly 10% common versus nearer to 7% for the equal paved ascent.
Regardless, it’s tremendous enjoyable and much quieter mid-summer than the one choice out there to highway cyclists. The views are dominated by the glaciers atop a number of the larger peaks of the Massif des Écrins on the far facet of Lautaret.
On my map the route is labeled as a downhill mountain bike path and I’d see a dozen or so descending. However other than that and a few outdated farm buildings, it was abandoned.
It was gradual going for me however I used to be grateful for a bench half manner up:
As I approached the highest, I crossed the principle highway:
Simply earlier than the tunnel the outdated highway ends and I climbed the ultimate kilometre on the principle highway. I’ve written about Col du Galibier many instances so I didn’t take many photographs right here. However the summit and each side above the tunnel are spectacular.
See right here for a “full look” at Col du Galibier … though it was incomplete because it excluded this outdated highway! However there are particulars of the paved choices, some historical past, and so on.
3. A secret valley descent of north facet of Galibier
I nonetheless had one final trick up my sleeve. Descending the north facet, three kilometres down is definitely a geograhic col: Collet du Plan Nicolas (2406 mettres). There’s a small hole right here, and I jumped over the far facet right into a “secret” valley. Initially, it’s really an outdated highway that results in a farm, the one signal of civilisation. However the highway is atrocious in locations, and so steep that I walked one stretch in worry of not having the ability to cease.
However wow, attractive.
Be aware, the outdated highway quickly ends, and I handed the farm on a mountain climbing path. From right here on issues often get far tougher and technical. And at one level it’s very steep, even one of the best bicycle owner would stroll right here. I positively wouldn’t advocate climbing via this valley as a lot can be unrideable. However happening? Very enjoyable and often rideable.
Finally the path reaches a tough highway that quickly reconnects with the principle highway at 1750 metres maybe 12 kilometres under the Galibier summit. I’d eyed this valley so many instances whereas road-biking Galibier, it was satisfying to now know what lay behind the mountain right here.
Lastly, I solely had just a few paved kilometres again to Valloire (there are some mountain bike trails parallel to the principle highway although) and the tip of my three day tour. This three day journey labored much better than I might have hoped. Every day was attention-grabbing, difficult and exquisite. Extremely advisable. The map on the very backside consists of the complete three day route, with the 14 cols labeled.
Day One: Col Looking Behind Le Grand Galibier
Day Two: Col du Granon plus 5 Gravel Cols and a Perched Fort
A 3D Video of day three’s route:
