The biggest circuit of the week was planned to include five cols, 175km of riding, and over 7200m elevation gain. The storm with solid rain and lightning overnight fortunately cleared by the morning; with only low lingering cloud and drying roads any sign of what had passed by only hours before.
Looking back down the road on the climb to the Cormet de Roselend
The first col of the morning up to the Cormet de Roselend 1968m started right from town. Initially it followed a narrow treed valley next to a fast flowing stream, till the valley steepened further and required many tight hairpins to get over. My legs were taking longer than I’d hoped for to warm up and it was a concern this early in the ride, especially as my lowest gear was playing up.
Higher up on the road to the Cormet de Roselend
Once the steeper section was crested the valley opened up and the gradient eased for a bit so I was able to recover somewhat. After 20km the highpoint was reached and with a long way still to go I didn’t linger. The descent weaved through open meadows and then after a few kilometres rounded a bend with the great view of the Barrage de Roselend; a man-made lake which the road descended to and then traversed. Once at the far end, the road then dove via many hairpins down into Beaufort.
The road down to Beaufort which I'd have to return up later in the day
From Beaufort, it was a quick short descent to the small town of Queige. This village marked the turnoff and 5km climb over the col de la Forclaz 870m and subsequent descent down into the larger town of Ugine.
I tried in vain to find an eau potable fountain in Ugine, including asking a council worker; so was forced to continue onto my third col of the day. As Col du Sabot was the hidden gem of the climbs around Bourg d’Oisans, the Col de l’Arpettaz 1581m must surely be the same for this area. It is a one car wide sliver of bitumen that initially wound its way through small clusters of farm houses where I was able to finally top up my bottles. It then continued into a mix of forest and alpine meadows via 34 hairpins over its 21.3 km. A small café and car park for walkers is all that marked the top.
Halfway up the Col de l'Arpettaz - looking towards Annecy
Shaded road on the way up the Col de l'Arpettaz
Descent off the Col de l'Arpettaz
Shortly after commencing the descent down to the town Flumet, Mont Blanc dominated the view to the east. Unfortunately for me, the overnight storm also left a shroud of heavy cloud hiding the summit. Flumet marked the start of my fourth pass for the day, Col des Saises 1657m. It is the complete opposite of the climb to the Col de l’Arpettaz, as it takes a wide busier road up to the village of Les Saises.
The town of Flumet
From here there D218B dropped down to Beaufort and my final climb back up over the Cormet de Roselend. With my 29 cog out of action, I ground up in my 26 and as a bribe I promised myself a coke and something sweet when I made the Barrage de Roseland. The lake marked a relatively flat couple of kilometres of road before the last 6 kilometres of climbing and most importantly had three cafés on its shore to choose from.
Barrage de Roselend - final climb is on the far side
Bribe with view
Here I stopped for a coke and a Magnum ice cream before remounting the bike for the last climbing I’d need to do for the day. As once back at the Cormet de Roselend, the last 20 kilometres was all downhill to Bourg St Maurice. The stop and sugar was just what was needed and soon enough the road started pointing downwards to home.
Top of the fifth and final col for the day
And with much relief I made it back where a hot shower and food was my reward.
Ride details:
Distance 175.32km
7298m elevation
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