Road cycling in Tarentaise, Bourg Saint Maurice, in the French Alps
Our chalet in Bourg Saint Maurice is the best place to be based in the Alps for road cycling because:
* We are surrounded by Tour de France standard climbs with stunning views.
* We have a storage room and workshop at ground floor level
* There is an area outside where you can hose down and carry out repairs.
* Each room has a heated rail and hooks for drying out wet clothes.
* We can change our menus to suit your needs, so lots of carbs and hearty breakfasts.
* We can provide packed lunches if you'd like them.
* If you need to hire bikes, or buy equipment we can organise this for you in advance.
There are many climbs and cols accessible from Bourg st Maurice. Here are some details of just a few of the routes...
Altitude: 810 m - 2060 m
Distance: 26 km
Vertical climb: 584 m
This climb was made famous in 1996 when Miguel Indurain was dropped from the leading group on the final climb to Les Arcs in the Tour de France. Indurain lost three minutes and therefore the Tour.
* We are surrounded by Tour de France standard climbs with stunning views.
* We have a storage room and workshop at ground floor level
* There is an area outside where you can hose down and carry out repairs.
* Each room has a heated rail and hooks for drying out wet clothes.
* We can change our menus to suit your needs, so lots of carbs and hearty breakfasts.
* We can provide packed lunches if you'd like them.
* If you need to hire bikes, or buy equipment we can organise this for you in advance.
There are many climbs and cols accessible from Bourg st Maurice. Here are some details of just a few of the routes...
Les Arcs
Altitude: 810 m - 2060 m
Distance: 26 km
Vertical climb: 584 m
This climb was made famous in 1996 when Miguel Indurain was dropped from the leading group on the final climb to Les Arcs in the Tour de France. Indurain lost three minutes and therefore the Tour.
Cormet de Roseland
Altitude: 810 m - 1968 m
Distance: 21 km
Vertical climb: 1158 m
Gradient: 6% average - 11% maximum
A beautiful climb between the Tarentaise and Beaufortain valleys, the Cormet de Roseland is one of the most stunning climbs in the Alps. The twisting and turning road that leaves Bourg St Maurice opens into a lovely valley with dramatic views of the Mont Blanc, and then the final dramatic ascent to the Col. The Col du Pre is a steep road that is an alternative route to climb back up to the Lake du Roseland.
Col de l'Iseran
Altitude: 810 m - 2770 m
Distance: 41 km
Vertical climb: 1960 m
Gradient: 6% average - 11% maximum
Although it is only one climb, the route from Bourg St Maurice to the Col de l'Iseran is still over 40km long. The route takes you past the decorated dam at Tignes, through the ski resort of Val d'Isere before the final 16km to the summit of the Col, and throughout there are stunning views of the peaks and glaciers of the Vanoise massif.
Col du Petit St Bernard
Altitude: 810 m - 2188 m
Distance: 31 km
Vertical climb: 1378 m
Gradient: 4% average - 6% maximum
At over 30km, the climb of the Col du Petit St Bernard is a long one but the gradients are never more than 6%. The Italian climb of the Colle San Carlo makes up for the easier gradients earlier in the ride and will certainly burn the legs. Take advantage of the water fountain in the village at the bottom of the climb.. Mont Blanc can be seen from the top of the Petit St Bernard and descending from the top of the Colle San Carlo.
La Plagne
Altitude: 1400 m - 2050 m
Distance: 21 km
Vertical climb: 650 m
Starting out from our chalet in Montchavin this climb gives wonderful views of the Tarentaise Valley, and is part of the route for the Tour de France 2009, which is starting out from Bourg st Maurice. Read more about the Tour de France 09.
Thanks to Russell from the Grenoble Cycling pages for this information.
"Cheers for a Great week Lucy and Leah, the food was amazing and the riding was good." Brett
