It Doesn't Get Higher than This

The authorities in the vicinity of Jausiers used to claim that the Col de la Bonette was the highest road in Europe. It's a pass on the route between Nice and the southern Alps. As it turned out, it wasn't even the highest road in France, that distinction belonging to the Col de l'Iseran. Undaunted, they embarked on adding a loop of road above the Col. It serves no purpose whatsoever, except to gain the extra hundred metres or so to make it higher than the Iseran. This high point is known as the Cime de la Bonette. It's still not the highest road in Europe though. There is a road in the Sierra Nevada in Spain that rises to nearly 3400 metres.

That aside, the Cime was worth a visit as the highest road in the Alps. It turns out to be a fabulous climb and may be my new favourite. It's 23 kilometres long, and starts in a forested area at Jausiers. It climbs easily at 5-7% for the first few kilometres, ensuring that initial progress is brisk. When it does kick up to 9 or 10%, the gradient usually decreases again within a kilometre or so, giving respite to weary legs. The scenery varies from verdant at the start through alpine valley to bleak and bare at the top. It has a little of the flavour of almost every other alpine climb.

The lower part of the climb is forested with good shade from the sun.

Higher up, the valley becomes wider with very open views.

There are few villages on the route, and signs warn that assistance may not be available in the event of problems, and that care should be exercised. It has the characteristics of a wonderful wilderness, with little signs of human occupation apart from an abandoned fort near the summit. As with the Col d'Agnel, there is lots of hiking going on further up the climb, so there are clusters of parked cars here and there. But it's much less busy than the Agnel, apart from the Cime itself, which is an obvious draw for tourists.

The first proper view of the Cime is from about 3 kilometres away. The landscape is barren. The road curves around the Cime and rises to its highest altitude below the peak on the far side.

Unlike the Agnel, even though there are tough sections of 9 and 10% higher up, there are also flatter sections, so there is always the chance to recover. The last kilometre to the Cime is brutally steep though, with 11% common as the road struggles to top 2800 metres of altitude. The air is thin, and it takes a considerable effort to complete the ride. The sense of satisfaction and the views make it worthwhile, of course.

Bike and rider in front of the memorial to the people that built the loop of road to the Cime.

Spectacular views from the Cime de la Bonette.

The route up to the Cime de la Bonette is available on Garmin Connect.

On the way up, I was held up for a while as there had been an accident. A cyclist, descending from the Cime had apparently crashed. The emergency services were on the scene and I witnessed the arrival of the air ambulance. Angela had seen the aftermath too, and asked me not to ride down. I went down by car, so there is no route back down from the Cime.

Emergency services on scene at the accident. We believe the rider was fine.