Anyone who watches cycling on TV has probably dreamed of the climbs themselves. The dream of zooming across the slopes of the Galibier, the Tourmalet, or the Sella Ronda, for example, is in reality quite different. Especially in France, many roads are very busy in the summer. The Sella Ronda is also a well-known tourist attraction. No free descents or pleasant climbs. But there is a silver lining. Many destinations value a car-free day, both for cyclists and for nature. Therefore, here are 5x car-free days in the mountains, which you can still enjoy now!
Text: Sander Kolsloot
Sella Ronda Bike Day
The Sella Ronda is an absolute classic for cycling in the Dolomites. The approximately 60-kilometer route, which includes the Passo Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo, and Gardena. In a year there are only two times to cycle this route without other traffic on the route: the Marathon of the Dolomites and Sella Ronda Bike Day. The Marathon is an event with limited access, where approximately 9000 people get the chance to cycle the route every year. Everyone is welcome at the Sella Ronda Bike Day. From 08:30 in the morning until 16:00 in the afternoon, you can enjoy yourself. This year the Sella Ronda is car-free on June 10, 2023 and on September 16 of this year. Go quickly to the website to find out more about it!
Ride the Alps – Climb the Giants – Switzerland
Although Switzerland You will already have made several villages, towns and roads car-free; you will still encounter the postbox in every village. That is why the Ride the Alps – Climb the Giants initiative is taking place in the Valais – Wallis province. For five days in 2023, cars are off the road and cyclists have free rein to climb, among other things, to the Sanetsch only, Lake of Tseuzier and Col du Crans-Montana. Here too, the advantage is that the often narrow roads are completely suitable for the two-wheeler. This is a big plus not only for climbing, but also for descending. The data for these climbs and car-free days:
- May 20th – Col de Crans Montana
- 10 June – Thyon 2000
- June 11 – Lac de Tseuzier – Anzère
- June 23 – Col du Sanetsch
- 24 September – Nufenenpas
Col’attitude – Vosges
Closer to home in the French Vogezen you’ll find a cool initiative called Col’attitude. French roads aren’t known for their safety, especially not during Cyclosportives or on a lost Sunday afternoon. The Frenchman, like the rest of the cyclists, is mostly just minding his own business and before you know it you’re crashing into a car. End of adventure. During Col’s attitude Its various well-known climbs in the Vosges, such as the Grand Ballon, are closed to cars and cyclists have free access. This year, these events will take place on the following dates:
- June 11 – Le Lac Blanc
- June 25th – La Planche des Belles Filles
- 09 July – Ballon d’Alsace
- 23 July – Geisweg
- 02 September – Vieil Armand – HWK
- September 10 – Col Amic
- September 17th – Petit Ballon d’Alsace
- September 24 – Col d’Oderen
Oisans Col Series
The Alps are also home to Car-free days have become commonplace. From Oisans, at the foot of the Alpe d’Huez, a ‘car free day’ is organized on several Saturdays in July and August. Several climbs in the region are then car-free. That’s great, if you’d like to enjoy the famous cols of the Tour de France or the Dauphiné Libéré for a bit of freedom. The following days you can go car-free:
- 04 July: Croix de Fer and the Glandon
- July 11: Col de Solude
- July 18: Villars Reculas
- July 25: Les Deux Alpes
- 01 August: Col du Sabot
- August 8th: Alpe d'Huez
- August 15: Col d’Ornon
- August 22: Oz and Oisans
- August 29: Col de Sarenne
Les Journee Cyclo: Grand Colombier
One of the most beautiful climbs that will be tackled this year in the Tour de France is the Col du Grand Colombier. On Friday 14 July The riders of the men's peloton blast up this alpine giant. This monster climb is a number of Saturdays in the summer free of cars and therefore a paradise for cyclists. On the following days you can climb the Grand Colombier without cars:
- June 10
- July 8
- August 12th
- September 9
Enough reason to have a nice weekend Bugey book the region!
More car-free days in the mountains?
Do you know of any more than these 5x car-free days in the mountains? Let us know in the comments!
Questions & tips
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