Cycling in the French Alps

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates
• Reviews

The route descriptions have been designed to give all necessary navigational information and can be followed without recourse to a map. However, I would not advise anyone to set off on a cycle-tour without the relevant map(s) as you may need to change your itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances – accident, bad weather, road closures, etc.

I use a combination of Michelin and French Geographical Survey (IGN) maps. The new series of 1:150,000 Michelin ‘Local’ maps are ideal for cycle-touring and usually only one map is needed for each circuit. The Michelin 1:200,000 ‘Regional’ maps give a good overview of an area and are generally detailed enough for day-to-day navigation. The revised IGN ‘TOP 100’ series of 1:100,000 scale maps give more detail than the Michelin maps but you will usually require at least two or three sheets for each tour. There is also a series of 1:250,000 scale maps (‘TOP 250’), but they do not always give enough detail, especially around towns.

I have given the reference numbers of the relevant Michelin 1:150,000 and 1:200,000 and IGN 1:100,000 scale maps in the introductory section of each tour.