ExperienceCycling over the Alpine passes

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Les cols mythiques des Alpes à vélo
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Cyrille Quintard

Cycling up the legendary Alpine passes

Oz 3300, the ideal base camp for cyclists!

The Croix de Fer, Glandon and Galibier passes… set out to conquer the great Alpine passes. But any cyclist with strong calves won’t want to miss out on climbing the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez, one of the legendary climbs of the Tour de France!

On the roads of the Alps

by bike

Elevation gain, duration, distance, gradient… choose your route to suit your preferences and ability! Helmet, water bottle, sunglasses… hop on your trusty steed and set off to conquer the greatest mountain passes around Oz 3300. The Lautaret, the Glandon, the Galibier, the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez: you’ll be cycling through exceptional and varied landscapes. And beyond the picture-postcard views, what better reward for a cyclist than the joy of reaching the top of a mountain pass? Perhaps riding back down it!

Events

that really live up to expectations!

The Alpe d’Huzes, La Marmotte… these major summer events bring together thousands of cyclists every year… whilst some may prefer to cheer on the riders, others will be tempted to take part! Fans of sporting challenges will enjoy the ‘Oisans Cols Series’, cycling on roads reserved exclusively for cyclists. Every week, “La Montée d’Oz” also offers a timed climb between the village and the resort – a great opportunity to cycle on your own, with friends or with family!

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Montée des 21 virages de l'Alpe d'Huez
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Cyrille Quintard - Oisans Tourisme

Paradise

for cyclists

Cycling enthusiasts will also fall in love with Oz 3300! Under the ‘Accueil Cyclo Oisans’ scheme, many accommodation providers offer services tailored to cyclists and cycle tourists: bike storage, charging points, repair tools, advice…

The timeless photo in front of the mountain pass sign!

Even back in the days of black-and-white photography, cyclists would pose in front of the pass sign, proudly holding their bikes.
And today the tradition lives on, so no matter how tired you are when you reach the top, there’s always a little smile left for the souvenir photo!

The most beautiful routes

for cycling

To climb the Col de la Croix de Fer, situated at the foot of the Pic de l’Etendard, you’ll pass through the small, traditional village of Rivier d’Allemond, walk alongside the turquoise-blue Lac de Grand Maison and, once you reach the summit, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking view of the Aiguilles d’Arves…

The source of the Eau d’Olle is situated at the Croix de Fer Pass, which is why this pass was formerly known as the Col d’Olle. It owes its current name to the imposing iron cross that stands at its summit.

27.50 1,292 m

km of elevation gain

In Roman times, the Col du Glandon provided a route from the Oisans to the Maurienne, via the Villards valley. From 1912 onwards, it was finally possible to reach Saint Jean de Maurienne directly via the link road to the Col de la Croix de Fer. The memorial at the summit of the pass pays tribute to the Oisans resistance fighters who repelled a German attack during the Second World War.

The Col du Sabot, the highest ‘road’ pass in Isère, will take you above the 2,000-metre mark amidst the tranquillity of the alpine pastures.

Until 1860, the Col du Sabot marked the border between France and Savoy. The road was equipped with a border post to protect the province of the Dauphiné.‘Sabot’ comes from ‘Sabaudia’, meaning Savoy in the Savoyard dialect. Where the Grand’Maison reservoir now lies, vast mountain pastures were once shared between the French and the Savoyards. This dam is France’s largest hydroelectric complex; it takes its name from ‘la Grand’Maison’, which was once a large building used to house shepherds.

This winding road offers exceptional views of the Grandes Rousses massif, the villages clinging to the mountainside such as Villard-Reculas and Auris-en-Oisans, and, of course, a breathtaking panorama of the Romanche Valley. But to reach this spectacular scenery, hold on tight to your handlebars: between the hairpin bends, the gradients range from 8 to 9 per cent! Apart from one bend that requires you to accelerate again, the others are followed by a flat section – and what a reward it is to reach the final hairpin bend…

Tips from the pro

Preparation and training are essential before tackling the major mountain passes.
Mountain roads are busy in summer, with motorised and non-motorised vehicles, cows, sheep and more… take care on the descents!

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Oisans Col Series Cols De La Croix De Fer Glandon
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Cyrille Quintard

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7887 Oisans Col Series Cols De La Croix De Fer Glandon Bd
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Cyrille Quintard

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