Cycling in the French Alps

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

Updates to second edition (2008), April 2008

1. Tour of the Chartreuse/Bauges

Day 2.
The junction at km 25.8 (D921C/N504) is now a roundabout.

2. Tour of the Belledonne

Day 3
A project to build a chairlift between Celliers and the Col de la Madeleine has been approved. Construction work is due to start this summer and this may affect the road over the col. Up-to-date information on any possible road closures/restrictions can be found at www.savoieroute.com.

3. Tour of the Ecrins/Grandes Rousses

Days 5, 6 and 7 (and Tour of the Belledonne, Day 5)
Bourg d'Oisans now has a new by-pass, which is joined to the old road at roundabouts at either end of the village. The roundabout at the eastern end of the village is also the junction with the road to Alpe d'Huez. Cyclists can/should still follow the old (and now much quieter) road through the centre of the village.

September 2008

Chapter 7, day 1
The road from St Gervais to the Col de Romeyère via the Gorges des Ecouges has been closed since late April 2008, due to a landslide (my apologies to anyone who tried to cycle this route this summer, but I only found out in September). The road will be reopened this winter but it will be closed again next spring for an unspecified period of time to allow further road works. While the Gorges des Ecouges are closed, the best alternative is to continue from St Gervais to Cognin-les-Gorges - there is a minor road (a bit bumpy) through Rovon that can be used to avoid the main road. From Cognin, go up through the Gorges du Nan to Malleval, and then the Pas du Pré Coquet (average 7.5% for about 13 km, but with some much steeper sections. Excellent road surface and some very spectacular views). From the Pas du Pré Coquet, go down through Presles to Pont-en-Royans. Pont-en-Royans is approximately 27 km from Cognin-les-Gorges.