Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez road cycling

This cycling route is arguably the most legendary and famous cycling route in the world. Although challenging and relentless, it is far from the hardest, making it achievable to almost anyone with a basic level of fitness.

The climb itself can be split into four sections with their own milestones. It is important to warm up properly, because the first section from Bourg to La Garde and is arguably the most difficult, with the climb going instantly from flat to an average of 11%. Between Garde and the pretty hamlet of Ribot, the gradient drops of briefly before cranking up to 9%. This gradient now remains pretty constant, with no notable flatter sections, except for the briefest of rest-bites during the transitions in the hairpin bends. Between Ribot and Huez is the longest section which climbs quickly through a number of hairpin
bends, passing through the Dutch corner, made famous by the huge sea of orange clad Dutch supporters camped out here during each Tour du France. The final section form Huez to the resort of Alpe d’Huez passes through the lowest ski slopes of the resort and picturesque meadows.

As you arrive into the resort the unofficial and more popular finish line is close to the tourist office. However be aware, that the official Tour du France finish line continues up through the tunnel and another couple of bends and roundabouts through the resort. This finish line, which is located along side the ski slopes is slightly understated, with just a small banner, plaque and a line on the road. Which ever line you chose to finish at, don’t forget your stopwatch, so you can compare your effort against the times of the professionals.

Most people, after a rewarding treat in a local café chose to return to the valley by the same route, but anotable circular return option is possible via the Col de Sarenne, made famous in the 2013 Tour du France, when after climbing the 21 bends, competitors returned to the valley over the Col de Sarenne before climbing the Alpe d’Huez for a second time. Thankfully the event has resulted in vast improvements to the road surface over this col, although this is still a very technical descent with loose gravely corners.

The climb was first used in the Tour du France in 1952 and has been used 28 times up until it was climbed twice in one day in 2013.

It is also the final climb for the grueling Marmotte cycling event, which welcomes 8,000 amateur cyclists to compete in this cyclosportive. The race, which starts in Bourg d'Oisans, passes over the Col du Glandon, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, before finishing in Alpe d’Huez, a total of 174km and 5180m of climbing.

This climb is also the location for the Dutch charity cycling event the Alpe d’Huzes in early June, where teams of cyclists aim to climb the Alpe d’Huez six times in a day.

Depart altitude Le Bourg d'Oisans 2350ft/715m

Arrival altitude Alpe d'Huez 6100ft/1800m

Height gain 3750ft/1145m

Length 14km/8.8miles

Steepest gradient 13.5%

Average gradient 8.1%

Record 37min 35 Marco Pantani 1997

View Alpe d`Huez in a larger map

Accommodation options in Le Bourg d’Oisans

Alpe d'Huez - Back country mountain bike trails

Alpe d'Huez MTB/VTT piste map

Alpe d’Huez is most commonly knows in mountain biking circles for the Mega Avalanche. And for good reason, this international event, pitching armature against professional riders attracts people from all over the world.  The event takes place over 3 days with a day of practice, a day of qualifying and finally the race day. Competitors start at the Pic Blanc at 3300m, beginning the race on the glacier before descending over 30km of grueling trail to Allemont at 720m.

However visit the resort outside of this popular week and you will be blown away by the amount (250km marked trails), standard and diversity of the mountain bike trails. Even better book a guide to show you some of the resorts hidden backcountry treasures.

Single track around Lac Besson

One of my favourite all mountain circuits is to take the DMC1 gondola from Alpe d’Huez up to the first stage and then ride the cross country trail past Lac Besson (XC11) to the mid station of the Dome Rouse cable car. At the top of the Dome cable car the start of the Mega Avalanche qualification course heads off to the right. However we generally chose to head off the back of the resort to the left and follow a series of less obvious and quite technical single track in the direction of the Col du Couard. The trail, well above the tree line, starts with on loose rock mixed with sections of fun slick rock where you can chose any number of different ways down. It is set on a balcony plateau and runs past a number of very beautiful partly frozen lakes.

At the Col du Couard the trail climbs again onto a 

section of extremely exposed, not for the faint

hearted trail, which leads around the back of Les Agiguillettes before another short sharp climb up to the Col du Sabot. From here it is a fast decent through grassy meadows into the picturesque resort of Vaujany and a well-earned stop in one of the charming restaurants. It is now possible to return to Alpe d’Huez either via the two sections of the Dome cable car and then down the Mega qualification course (L1), or continue down towards Allemont (EN1), where a free shuttle bus brings you up to Oz Station and the Poutran gondola which brings you back to the main MTB area above Alpe d’Huez.

It is worth noting that this circuit is only really possible when enough snow has melted at altitude, usually sometime towards the middle of July and that the Dome cable car closes everyday from midday until 2pm.

For accommodation in Alpe d'Huez and the surrounding area visit us at Bike lodging

Mountain Biking and Cycling in Alpe d'Huez And Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes

For years the French Alps have been the home of the winter ski crowd, leaving the summer to a handful of hikers, climbers and serious mountaineers. Even popular summer resorts such as Chamonix and Zermatt with such draw cards as the Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn have recently realised that thanks to competition from smaller resorts opening their lift systems in the summer, they too will have to modernise and adapt to current trends, to keep visitors interested. 

Alpe d'Huez

One of those emerging trends started in North America is the growth of mountain biking in the French Alps. Resorts such as Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez have realized for some time now, the potential of a summer season and in particular the downhill and cross country mountain bike scene. Les Deux Alpes in particular has the advantage of already opening its lifts in the summer to access the largest summer ski system in Europe. Opening to the growing downhill mountain bike scene meant simply adapting a few of the lifts and getting to the serious business of creating a network of specific trails, northshore and bike park. An advantage over other resorts is the sheer length of runs. With lifts open up to the glacier for skiing, riders can descend from over 3200 metres starting in the snow, through the lunar landscape of the midlevel slopes, into the fast grassy meadows on the approach to the resort before heading down the switchbacks of the run into the valley and Venosc at 700 metres. Just over the valley riders can tackle the legendary mountain bike marathon course of the mega avalanche with over 30km of almost continual downhill.

In addition the region which is traditionally known for road cycling boasts an extensive network of cross country trails for all levels. Those looking for an easy ride will enjoy the valley floor trails around Le Bourg d'Oisans, or the loop up to Venosc. For more challenging terrain the meadows of Alpe d'Huez are perfect and for those looking for the ultimate challenge, try the Traverse de l'Oisans, a three day circular routr, spending a couple of nights in mountain refuges. During this tour of the region you will take in various stunning and interesting sites such as the Lake du Vernay from Vaujany, the famous 21 hairpin climb to Alpe d'Huez, the impressive Plateau d'Emparis with views over the glaciers above La Grave and the tumbling waters of the Veneon Valley.

It is suggested that mountain biking and cycling are Britain's biggest growth sports and resorts of the Oisans region are adapting fast to encourage more and more people to the region. Combined with the growth of specialist biking accommodations such as the Ribot Lodge, improved road links and more budget airline flights into the nearby Lyon airport, it couldn't be easier to book a biking holiday to explore the region. Those interested in more information on  biking accommodation around the region should look at Bike Lodging.

Les Deux Alpes Mountain biking

Les Deux Alpe Mountain biking

Having lived close to and ridden Les Deux Alpes since 2007 I’m always amazed by how quite and undiscovered by the huge British mountain bike scene this resort is. Compared to the resorts of the Portes du Soleil which sometimes feels like a huge British trail center, Les Deux Alpes in general has avoided the invasion of the UK rider. This could have something to do with the extra traveling time from airports. However with a new motorway section from Geneva to Annecy, the transfer time from Geneva to Les Deux Alpes is now just 2.15 hours and Lyon is just 1h45. With the recent launch of a new transfer company 'Chairlift'  supplying direct transfers from these airports, getting to Les Deux Alpes just got that much easier.

Les Deux Alpes sets itself apart from Les Portes du Soleil by having incredibly long descents. With an altitude loss of 2500meters from the glacier at 3200 meters to the hamlet of Venosc at 700meters. In which there are 110km of French Federation approved trails. These range from snow pack on the glacier to technical lunar landscape, onto high speed berms through alpine meadows, before the tight technical forest sections leading on below the resort level.

In recent years, the Free Raid classic event has been joined by the world famous Crank Works event attracting some of the best riders in the world. Different to its sister and founding event in Whistler Canada, this event still remains relatively low key and spectators are still able to rub shoulders and chat with all their favorite riders right in the pit area.

The Mountain Of Hell mountain bike event takes place annually in late July and is a mass start derby bringing together professional and armatures all looking to concur this grueling race. Starting at the top of the Les Deux Alpes glacier the race descends for almost 25km with a drop of around 2500meters over glacial snow and ice, loose rock, mud and tree roots before the finish line in Venosc.

Dates for the 2014 event have cause quite a bit of confusion due to a clash with the Mega Avalanche in Alpe d’Huez. Contrary to earlier publications, the event will take place over the weekend of the 18,19&20^th July.

If you are looking for somewhere amazing to stay for this week or any other over the summer, take a look at Chalet Venosc located close to the bottom of the Venosc run. Here you can enjoy a luxury mountain bike holiday, with hot tub, sauna, games room and cinema room for an amazing price.

Chamonix Mountain biking an emerging force

Chamonix MTB

Having lived in Chamonix as a keen mountain biker for 7 years until 2007 I was always frustrated by the lack of interested the powers that be had in the sport. In fact, many of my friends would chose to take the 45 minutes drive to the neighboring resort of Les Gets to buy their summers season passes and make use of their extensively developed bike park.

Chamonix has historically has been more famous for extreme skiing and mountaineering and more recently, hiking, paragliding and sightseeing. During the summer, tourists flock to the two cable cars that whisk you from the town of Chamonix to the Aiguille du Midi at over 3800 meters to take a quick photo of the  spectacular views over the Mont Blanc and surrounding glaciers. Mountain biking in the area was limited to hiking paths which, although plentiful with some phenomenal single track, were often closed to mountain bikers during the high season.

These days things are changing in the valley. La Tour/Vallorcine and Les Houches, both popular locations for the local rider, have developed fantastic mountain bike areas, with specially designed downhill track on the front side from the Col du Balme  as well as a track that drop into Vallorcien and others through the forests of Les Houches. Although perhaps not as well ridden in as some DH tracks in Les Gets or Morzine, what Chamonix do offer are considerably longer, wrist aching, calf burning runs with spectacular scenery.

However, were Chamonix really excels now are the enduro style, pack a back pack and get lost for a few hours, natural single track. From the col du Balme it is possible to ride a number of different trails off the back of the resost into Switzerland. Don’t forget you passport... From Les Houches again riding off the back of the resort towards and St Gervais through forests and pastures and eventually down La Fayet where you can return to the valley free with your Carte d’Hôte tourist card by tramway.

Finally Chamonix has embraced mountain biking for all the family. The valley stretches for 14 miles from Les Houches at the lower end to La Tour at the top and Chamonix has developed and upgrades a huge network of interconnected family friendly and cross country trails, linking from one end to the other. A tour to a secluded mountain restaurant in the forest of Les Bois is a must for any family.

To get the best out of the area is advisable, but not essential to take a guide.  A number of different chalet businesses provide taylor made services for their mountain biking clients.  Chalet Tissieres in Les Bosson have an extremely good professional service where they can pick you up from the airport and have your bike rentals already waiting for you at their luxury chalet and provide a local guide for the duration of your stay.  Les Houches MTB Chalet  located right next to the summer gondola and bike park, is owned and run by very keen mountain bikers who offer a discover Chamonix week, with a grogram that will introduce you to all the different areas and the best trails of the Chamonix.

Alternatively a comprehensive guide to mountain biking trails are available on the following website Chamonix Bike Book 

Will Corder - BikeLodging