Cycling the Route des Grandes Alpes

Giles Belbin is a cycling writer and author based in southwest England. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Cyclist, Ride Cycling Review, Cycling Weekly, Procycling and Rouleur. He first rode his bike in the French Alps in 2006 while watching the Tour de France, falling off his bike near the top of the Col du Galibier in exhaustion. He has been a frequent visitor ever since.

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Ride planner

Alternative schedules

Introduction

History of the Route des Grandes Alpes

Connection with the Tour de France

Natural environment

When to go

Riding in the mountains

Bike selection and preparation

eBike riding

Touring options

Accommodation

Food and drink

Getting there

Getting around

Getting back

Safety and emergencies

Using this guide

The route

Stage 1 Thonon-les-Bains to Cluses

Stage 2 Cluses to La Clusaz

Stage 3 La Clusaz to Beaufort

Stage 4 Beaufort to Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Stage 5 Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Val d'Is&##xe8;re

Stage 6 Val d'Is&##xe8;re to Val Cenis Termignon

Stage 7 Val Cenis Termignon to Valloire

Stage 8 Valloire to Briançon

Stage 9 Briançon to Guillestre

Stage 10 Guillestre to Barcelonnette

Stage 11 Barcelonnette to Valberg

Stage 12 Valberg to Saint-Martin-V&##xe9;subie

Stage 13 Saint-Martin-V&##xe9;subie to Sospel

Stage 14 Sospel to Nice

Variants

Variant 1 Saint-Jean-de-Sixt to Villard-sur-Doron

Variant 2 Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne

Variant 3 Val Cenis Lanslevillard to Briançon

Variant 4 Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne to Col du Lautaret

Variant 5 Guillestre to Barcelonnette

Variant 6 Jausiers to Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tin&##xe9;e

Appendix A Bike shops and Bosch eBike charging stations

Appendix B Recommended cycling essentials checklist

Appendix C Useful resources and essential information

Appendix D Glossary of cycling specific terms