Robbert traveled around Bourg Saint Maurice (BSM) for two weeks. In a series of three parts, we take you along the most beautiful places around Bourg Saint Maurice, one of the most beautiful base camps in the Alps, from which you can cycle many beautiful climbs. Today you will read more about the Cormet de Roselend, one of the legendary climbs from the Tour de France. Are you going on another trip? And would you like to cycle around Bourg Saint Maurice and to the Cormet de Roselend?
Cormet de Roselend
Time for the real work! In advance, I was quite afraid of this climb. Two days earlier, after all, I had driven up to the Cormet to go hiking in the mountains around the lake. The first part is really steep, with a large number of treacherous hairpin bends. Anyway, as we say in Twente: Vake is too scary.
When I leave the bike in the morning, the weather is still radiant, although a few clouds appear behind me. At the second roundabout in Bourg Saint Maurice, I turn right onto the Cormet de Roselend, where the road immediately starts climbing. Here again, the first stretch is through the forest. In front of me I see several women and a man cycling and I have a benchmark to aim for. On the section with the hairpin bends, I ride behind the woman in front. In my best French, we say hello to each other and we chat for a while about the weather and the climb of this col. However, I don’t have much breath left to talk at length. I pass the woman and enter the sheltered part of the Cormet. At that moment, the one behind me pulls in and suddenly a thunderclap rolls through the mountains. The cows in the meadow below me all jump up and seek shelter. It also starts to rain a little. Shit, what am I going to do? Do I turn around and head back to the campsite or cycle on? For me, however, it is still radiant blue; behind me it is dark.
Cormet de Roselend, Bourg Saint Maurice, France
• Distance: 19.2 km, Elevation difference: 1135 m, Average gradient: 5.9 %
Continuing is the only option
I decide to add a little bit more speed and just continue on my route. Probably for a while, after the bad weather and a single drop of rain, I’ll keep it dry. In the distance I can see the top of the Roseland and I’m truly overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains around me. What a person can’t sometimes feel insignificant. On top of the peak I take a photo of the col, have a colada, and decide to continue driving towards Lac de Roseland. That’s because two days earlier, when I passed by there, we passed a small restaurant where I stopped for a bit to eat. Then I drive back up to the top and then descend 19 kilometers to Bourg Saint Maurice. The first part (up to the forest) is wonderfully clear, which means the speed increases significantly. I have confidence in my bike and go faster than I would have dared beforehand. I decide not to tell my wife what my top speed was. The downhill section with the hairpin bends is also wonderful; assessing the bends, braking, accelerating and getting back on the bike. I notice that it has been raining heavily here, because the road is still wet. It was therefore a good decision to continue cycling up. When I get back to the campsite I have covered 1250 meters of elevation gain and cycled 47 kilometers. A great holiday ride!
La Rosière and Col de Petite Saint Bernard
The climb to Col de Petite Saint Bernard is 23 kilometers long, but nowhere really super steep. A real challenge for your climbing legs. You have constant mountain scenery around you. The pink painted road is the familiar reference point just before La Rosière. My route doesn’t really go over this road, but I do pass it. For the sake of feeling the descent, I briefly go down the section, to cycle up anyway. After La Rosière, I cycle the final 6 kilometers to Col de Petite Saint Bernard. This section is also fine to cycle at an average speed of 4.4%, and the view is phenomenal. On the left is the valley, where the road leads right along the precipice, in front of your right is the ‘wall‘. After passing the old Hospice Col du Petite Saint Bernard, I cycle on towards the sign for Italy, towards the Aosta Valley. I turn here, but this is also
Cycling routes around Bourg Saint Maurice – Cormet de Roselend
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Questions & tips
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