Each stage will be a challenge

THE STAGES

We have proposed to make the Route des Grandes Alpes in 7 stages, although we have reserved 8 days in case we have to neutralize someday due to bad weather. It is necessary to keep a minimum margin, taking into account that we will pass through very high mountain passes that can be complicated if weather conditions are bad.

We have an itinerary planned, but not closed. We have not booked any hotel, and we are moving forward day by day, improvising with the accommodation and enjoying the freedom and flexibility that comes from not being closed to specific hours or kilometres per day. Maybe one day we feel stronger and we can advance a little more than expected, and another day we have bad weather or some incident and we have to shorten the stage a bit. In the end the kilometres and the uphill will be the same, but we like to maintain a certain level of improvisation that makes us more connected to each moment and space crossed.

The estimated stages plan is as follows:

1) THONON-LES-BAINS – CLUSAZ: 95.4Km. and 2,396m+

  • Main mountain passes: Col des Gets (1,163m) – La Colombière (1,613m)
  • Hits of the stage: Landscapes of the Upper Savoy – Massif of Chablais – Cluses Valley – The Aravis – Gorges of the Dranse – Valley of l’Arvée

2) CLUSAZ – BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE: 91.5Km. and 2,884m+

  • Main mountain passes: Col des Aravis (1,486m) – Col des Saisies (1,657m) – Collet de Roselend (1,968m)
  • Hits of the stage: Landscapes of the Beaufortain and the Mont Blanc – Valley of Arly – Lac de Roselend – Valley of the Tarentaise

3) BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE – TERMIGNON: 85.9Km. and 2,260m+

  • Main mountain passes: Col de l’Iseran (2,764m) The highest road bike pass in the Alps – Col de la Madeleine (1,735m)
  • Hits of the stage: Parc de la Vanoise – Val d’Isere – Lac du Chevril – Tignes – Valley of the Maurienne – Bonneval-sur-Arc

4) TERMIGNON – BRIANÇON: 102.3Km. and 2,170m+

  • Main mountain passes: Col du Télégraphe (1,566m) – Col du Galibier (2,642m) – Col du Lautaret (2,058m)
  • Hits of the stage: Parc national de la Vanoise – Valley of the Maurienne – Barrière de l’Esseillon – glaciers des Ecrins – Briançon

5) BRIANÇON – BARCELONNETTE: 101.2Km. and 2,650m+

  • Main mountain passes: Col de l’Izoard (2,360m) – Col de Vars (2,108m)
  • Hits of the stage: Massif of Queyras – Valley of l’Ubaye

6) BARCELONNETTE – SAINT-MARTIN-VÉSUBIE: 134.3Km. and 3,906m+

  • Main mountain passes: Col de la Cayolle (2,326m) – Col de Valberg (1,669m) – Col de la Couillole (1,678m) – Col Saint Martin (1,503m)
  • Hits of the stage: Valley of l’Ubaye – Valley d’Entraunes – Parc National du Mercantour – Valberg – Valley of the Vésubie – Valley of the Tinée

 7) SAINT-MARTIN-VÉSUBIE – MENTON: 108.6Km. and 2,507m+

  • Main mountain passes: Col de Turini (1,604m) – Col de Castillon (706m) – Col d’Eze (507m)
  • Hits of the stage: Valley of the Vésubie – Sospel – Monaco – Côte d’Azur