They-they crossed the Alps and they-they tell...
Do you want to introduce yourself?
My name is Lionel, I'm 39 years old. I'm a company director in the tourism sector and co-host of the www.routedesgrandesalpes.com website. I'm married with 2 children.
What motivated you to embark on an itinerant bike trip through the Alps?
My initial motivation was to come and take photos on the route by car to illustrate the website. And then, the idea of doing it by bike quickly came up to combine business with pleasure and enjoy a real roaming experience in the mountains.
The Oisans loop video debrief
Which route and why?
I've made a loop between Oisans and Maurienne in July 2021.
D1: Bourg d'Oisans - La Grave, via L'Alpe d'Huezand the Col de Sarenne (52 km / +1780 m).
D2: La Grave - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne via the col du Galibier (73 km / +1330 m).
D3: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Bourg d'Oisans via the Col du Mollard and theCol de la Croix de Fer (82 km / +1995m).
I chose this route for transport reasons. My initial plan was to do a partial traverse, but the virtual absence of trains on Alpine lines this summer dissuaded me. So I decided to make a loop, with no regrets!
What kind of organization (luggage, food, accommodation, transfers)?
I drove to Bourg d'Oisans, my starting point.
I slept in "accueil vélo" accommodation in La Grave and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
I set off with a "light" pack: handlebar bag for camera gear (Olympus EM10 + Panckake 20mm + iPhone with OSMO 3 stabilizer), a 4L Zefal frame bag with repair kit and a 17L Zefal saddle bag with a 2nd bike outfit, "evening" outfit, toiletries and windbreaker.
Food-wise, I took the picnic or restaurant option, as well as bars and dried fruit.
On the gear side, my S-Works Tarmac SL5 was a great traveling companion. For the occasion, I invested in a cassette with a 30 sprocket to grind a bit more and compensate for the weight of the luggage. I also turned my stem to get a higher position and gain in comfort. Finally, I set off with automatic wedges and mountain bike shoes (SPD) to make walking easier in my shooting sessions.
What is your trifecta of passes and why?
Alpe d'Huez: It's just mythical! It's tough, it was my first time and my first pass on the course, cold, with 30 degrees in Bourg d'Oisans. The first hairpin bends are terrible, with passages at 12-13%. The finish in the resort is a bit "paumatory" but we eventually find the famous Rond-Point and raise our arms as if we'd won the stage!
Galibier: It's also a myth! I knew the north side but I'd never climbed the south side by bike, since Le Lautaret. It's quite rolling except for the last kilometer. The summit is a merry-go-round of cyclists, bikers, motorists and camper vans, all wanting to immortalize their passage with a selfie in front of the famous sign. Taking the time to observe this completely disorganized merry-go-round is very rewarding!
La Croix de Fer: I chose a Mollard-Croix de Fer sequence to bump into family members who were doing their own bike trip in the opposite direction. The foot of Le Mollard is very nice in the undergrowth with over 45 bends! As for La Croix de Fer, it's a magnificent pass! The ramps at Saint-Sorlin d'Arves are tough, but they don't let up all the way to the top! The south-facing descent is a magnificent tobbogan in an exceptional high-mountain atmosphere.
What's your best memory?
While the general atmosphere over the three days was great, with the added bonus of great weather, I have a soft spot for the passage of the Col de Sarenne. The link-up with l'Alpe d'Huez at the end of the day was tough, but what panoramas!
Ane anecdote?
On the first evening, I bumped into one of the former Route des Grandes Alpes leaders, Matthieu, who had hired me as an intern over 15 years ago. He was staying in the same hotel as me. It was a beautiful coincidence at that precise moment!