In the Col de Sarenne between Alpe d'Huez and La Grave
Arnaud Bachelard
On the Col de Sarenne
Arnaud Bachelard
Lacets of the Col de Sarenne
Arnaud Bachelard

Sarenne pass

Above Alpe d'Huez

Altitude 1999 m
Massif des Grandes Rousses
Département Isère
 

West side topo

col de sarenne versant ouest
The start is at the Alpe d'Huez resort at the Europe traffic circle. Follow the road overlooking the resort's altiport and golf course. You'll then take the pastoral Col de Sarenne road, and the landscape will soon offer a beautiful natural environment. But the ascent is very uneven. The road climbs for 1.250 km at 5.5%. You then head due east on a gentle 900 m descent to the Cabane de Brande, followed by a 700 m climb on a false flat. Another 1.8 km downhill, then 1.2 km of positive gradient at 5.5%. You're thinking it's not too difficult up to this point... but after crossing a bridge over La Sarenne, you're faced with a terrible finale: a 1.6 km steep climb at... 10.5%. The last 450 metres at 6% will enable you to finish without flinching and reach the Col de Sarenne, which at 1999 m misses the symbolic "2000" mark by just 1 metre.
 

East side top

profil col de sarenne versant sud est
The Col de Sarenne - 1999 m - is a somewhat confidential pass. The reason: Alpe d'Huez, its close neighbor, totally overshadows it. Yet this quiet, pastoral route through a protected natural area is still relatively unspoilt. However, the 12.9 km ascent will still be tough with its 8% average gradient.
Take advantage of the beautiful view of the Lac de Chambon dam to prepare your gear. Without transition, you'll attack a terrible 1.2 km slope at 11.5%, fortunately spread over 3 switchbacks. After this intense mountaineering exercise, you'll plant your ice axe in Mizoën. A life-saving descent (1.1 km) takes you to the next part of the climb. There are 10.6 km and 824 m of ascent to climb. Apart from a refreshing 1.4 km flat at 2% between Clavans-le-Bas and Clavans-le-Haut, the last traces of human civilization, the gradient will hardly ever fall below an average of 7%, often rising to 9/10%. The last 4 km, spread over 10 hairpin bends on a gradient of between 9 and 10%, are Dantean! But you'll be able to enjoy a magnificent panorama of the Plateau d'Emparis and the peaks of the Massif des Écrins.
 

 

The map

Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration

Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration

Check all Uncheck all

Filtres

Map options

Caption
Moyen
Difficile
Très difficile

The map

Variante L'Alpe d'Huez / Briançon

18 Variante L'Alpe d'Huez / Briançon

74 km
5 h 03 min
Very difficult
This route we’ve chosen between Le Bourg-d’Oisans and Briançon, going via L’Alpe d’Huez, enables cyclists to avoid the dangerous section of road (including numerous tunnels) between Le Bourg-d’Oisans and Le Chambon Lake. Our alternative delivers stunning views over the Oisans Range and the towering La Meije Mountain. Enjoy many unforgettable discoveries along the way on this magnificent Route des Grandes Alpes® stage: the rough shepherds’ route up to the Col de Sarenne pass (1999m); the village of La Grave and the little valleys around La Meije; the Col du Lautaret pass; the wild landscapes of the Romanche Gorges; the descent of the Guisane Valley; and the arrival in Briançon, designated a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire, its Vauban fortifications part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Author

Joris Lesueur

webmaster of alpes4ever.com

contact@alpes4ever.com