May 27, Grenoble to Le Bourg-d’Oisans (99 km, 2076 m)
Chamrousse & Villard-Reculas
Chamrousse became well known during the Winter Olympics in Grenoble.
For us cyclist, the climb of Chamrousse became famous when it was used in the mountain time-trial in the
2001 Tour de France.
Lance Armstrong won the 32 km stage on 18 July 2001, when he took just over an hour to complete the hors
categorie climb from Grenoble to the ski resort.
It is a fantastic climb, not only because there is hardly any traffic and the pavment is superb.
After the Chamrousse loop we decend to Sechilienne, from where we follow the Romanche river up the
valley towards Le Bourg-d’Oisans.
After the village of Livet, we turn off towards Allemot.
From the Lake Verney, we start the climb to Villard-Reculas. This is not a well known road, which is great.
It is spectacularly cut into the side of the mountain, leading to the village of Villard-Reculas and eventually
to Huez. It is a great alternative to just pedalling along the valley to Le Bourg, as it is spectacular,
challenging but not terribly steep and quiet. The average grade is ususally between 7-8% in the first part and
4-6% before you reach the village.
Leaving Villard you descend 2 km to Huez and connect with the epic road up to the Alpe-d’Huez, which we
take down into Le Bourg-d’Oisans, our base for the next two nights.
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