Last year I rode to the top of the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer from Bourg d'Oisans. This year, in an effort to recreate part of stage 19 of this year's Tour de France, I planned to ride them from St-Jean-de-Maurienne. The tour stage also took in the Col du Mollard, so I added that to my route too.
The climb to the Glandon starts in St-Etienne-de-Cuines, so the first part of the ride was along the Maurienne valley just as for the Col de la Madeleine. The climb to the Glandon from this side is one of the nicest I've done in the Alps. The gradients lower down are in the typical 7-9% range. There is a lot of shade lower down as the road runs through forested areas. The valley is devoid of the paraphernalia of skiing. It's all landscape and agriculture. In some ways it's reminiscent of the Col du Lautaret, but on a smaller scale.
Once out of the forest, the road crosses an alpine meadow. The gradients don't relax, but at this stage are easily manageable. The scenery at this point is spectacular. There is a sting in the tail though. The gradient kicks up to 10% with about 3 kilometres to go, and doesn't reduce until right at the summit.
The last 3 kilometres of the Glandon is an unrelenting 10%.
Managing a smile as the gradient finally reduces from 3 kilometres of 10% just before reaching the top.
Once again Angela was on hand to record bike and rider getting to the top of the Glandon. At least the old fool remembered to do up his jersey this time!
The Col de la Croix de Fer is only another couple of kilometers further up the mountain. This section is an easy 5-6%, and provides a nice respite after getting to the top of the Glandon. The scenery continues to be superb.
Bike and rider at the top of the Croix de Fer.
So after a hot chocolate and some shopping at the top, it was time to turn attention to the descent, and the third col of the day. Leaving the top, the gradients are quite high, and the road is narrow. The surface is not as good as the Glandon, and demands respect. After a few minutes of swooping curves and hairpins, the route reaches the resort of St-Sorlin d'Arves. It seems to go on for ever. Unlike the Glandon, this valley is home to ski resorts, and hiking seems to be particularly popular in summer, as does mountain biking.
Beyond the resort, the road continues steeply down. Finally, in the village of Belleville, the route reaches the right turn across the river for the start of the climb to the Col du Mollard. The surface is pretty good and the gradients the normal 7-9% for most of its length. There are one or two steeper sections. The lower part is forested and then, as is so often the case, the road emerges onto an alpine meadow for the final kilometers to the top.
Looking back down the road to the Col du Mollard from just below the top.
The scenery here is nice, but nothing to compare with the Glandon or the Croix de Fer. As an adjunct to the descent from the Croix de Fer, this is a worthwhile addition. However, there is not much reason to climb to it otherwise.
The route from the Col de la Croix de Fer to the Col du Mollard is available on Garmin Connect.
The descent from the Mollard is steep, with plenty of curves and hairpins and would be lovely, apart from the really poor condition of the surface for most of its length. There is a 16 kilometre climb to the Mollard directly from St-Jean-de-Maurienne which uses this route in reverse, but frankly there are much better ways to employ that much climbing in this area, unless you just need miles in your legs. I'd avoid that particular climb, but would certainly recommend including the Mollard in the descent from the Croix de Fer.
The route from the Col du Mollard down to St Jean de Maurienne is available on Garmin Connect.
So that's it for riding in the Maurienne valley. Tomorrow we move on Eygliers, near Guillestre ready for the next set of climbs. Weather permitting I'll ride over the Telegraph and Galibier in a reenactment last year's transfer to Briancon. This year I'll be starting much earlier in the day!
No comments:
Post a Comment