6 jours cyclo de Vars

Col Lebraut and Mont Colombis

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This mid-mountain stage, which offers sumptuous views of the lake and the Serre-Ponçon dam, is to be taken seriously, as the slopes are formidable. Mont Colombis is one of France’s toughest cols, or more precisely, a summit rising to 1733m above sea level, which you climb and then descend on the south side. The climb is 12km long, with a vertical drop of 1065m and an average gradient of 9%; the last two kilometers are at 12%. Halfway down the slope is the Salle de Bal des Demoiselles Coiffées, a splendid venue which is a more modest but nonetheless serious objective for those who opt for the shorter route.

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Grand Parcours: 93 km / 2100 D+.

Petit Parcours: 63 km / 1430 D+.

Cime de la Bonette

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With its grandiose scenery and respectable altitude, Europe’s highest road attracts many people throughout the summer. Take care on this long, narrow high-mountain road, which offers breathtaking scenery and slopes. On the way down from the summit, be sure to follow the signs for Jausiers, not Nice. We know some people who’ve made a mistake… Beware, too, of the marmots that sometimes cross the road without warning. La Bonette, an exceptional and unforgettable cycling mecca!

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Grand parcours: 101 km, 2700 D+.

Petit Parcours: 76 km / 1800 D+ (small route)

Val d’Escreins and Col de Vars

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A cooler 4th day. In fact, it’ll be a morning spent discovering the Vars nature reserve: the Val d’Escreins. A very wild and steep valley, reached by a cornice road through the vertiginous Riou Bel gorges, to arrive further on in the verdant mountain pastures dominated by the Pic de la Font Sancte, the highest point in Vars and Queyras. This will also be an opportunity for all participants to climb the Col de Vars before gathering for a shared picnic at Vars Sainte-Marie.

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Grand Parcours: 51 km / 1450 D+ (long course)

Petit Parcours: 36 km / 900D+ (short course)

Cols de Montgenèvre, Col de l’Echelle and Chalets de Laval

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“The Clarée, a river blessed by the gods. It’s magical, heavenly. I’m looking at the most beautiful country in the world“. These are the words of Emilie Carle, writer and resident of this magnificent valley in the Hautes-Alpes, in her book Une soupe aux herbes sauvages. You can judge for yourself. The effort required to visit these high points is not insignificant, but what a feast for the eyes! There will be some serious ramps on the classic route, and a very big day ahead for cyclists on the long route.

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Grand Parcours: 102 km / 1800 D+ – Petit Parcours: 67 km / 9000 D

Petit Parcours: 67 km / 961 D+ (small course)

Col d’Allos and Pra-Loup

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A tour of the Ubaye valley that will take us to the Col d’Allos, at the source of the Verdon, followed by a short detour to the ski resort of Pra-Loup, and finally a challenging return ascent of the southern slope of the Col de Vars. This day out with our neighbors, the Barcelonnettes, as the inhabitants of the eponymous town are known, will give us the chance to see a rich and varied architectural heritage all along the valley. The fortifications clinging to the mountainsides, the opulent houses of some of the families who emigrated to Mexico in the last century, and even the astonishing cemeteries are all witnesses to the rich past of this valley in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

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Grand Parcours: 121.5 km / 2730 D+.

Petit Parcours: 96 km / 1830 D+ (short course)