France's Vallée des Belleville will make your cyclist heart beat faster. The region is best known for its ski resorts Les Menuires, Val Thorens and Saint-Martin de Belleville. From down-hill for all levels and beautiful enduro MTB trails to tackling the tough Col de la Tougnète on a road bike. This region in the French Alps is increasingly putting itself on the map as a summer destination for active and adventurous travellers. Besides cycling, on your 'rest days' you can hike, go on a glacier hike, climb a real 'Via Ferrata' and cool down in one of the breathtaking mountain lakes. Cycling in Vallée des Belleville is truly cycling in paradise. A paradise for the adventurous cyclist!
Text and photos: Ruth Koops van 't Jagt
Vallée des Belleville: 1 Valley, 3 destinations, paradise for adventure cyclists
The Vallée des Belleville is home to the French winter sports destinations of Saint-Martin de Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens. Although many cyclists so far choose the neighbouring regions, the valley is developing into a beautiful summer mountain paradise for adventurous cyclists. These include beautiful paved cycling routes from Val Thorens and Les Menuires to the Col de La Tougnète (2434m). If all goes well, in 2023 you will be able to cycle even as far as Méribel on this brand-new cycle path, which is only accessible to cyclists. As a mountain biker, you will also fall head over heels here. Whether you are happy with a challenging down-hill track or prefer to explore the enduro trails on the ridges.
The new Col de La Tougnète
On the day the real bikers compete on their road bikes in the Tougnète climb (a short tour with a tough climb of the Tougnète), we make it a little easier on ourselves. From Les Menuires, at over 1,800 metres, we conquer this follow-up climb of the Col de la Loze on our e-mountain bikes. We start with La Croisette, swinging in front of the Le Brelin apartment block after a sharp right-hand turn and making the first really tough steep metres. Thus we leave Les Menuires behind and cycle along a beautifully winding new cycle path towards the Tougnète, whose summit is at almost 2,400 metres.
View
The views across the Alpine peaks and the green flanks of the mountains are breathtaking. On the way, we meet all kinds of cyclists: pensionados on e-mountain bikes and trained racing cyclists who may or may not break down on the very steepest sections. Once at the top, the views of Méribel and Mont Blanc are fantastic. On top of the Tougnète, we also meet tightly packed down-hillers, grinning from their integral helmets. They have taken the lift up from Méribel or Saint-Martin and will plunge down via one of the many tracks.
Brave down-hill and a bibshort dip
After blowing out at the summit (even with support, the last stretch, with stretches of 20-27%, is pretty tough), we too begin an off-road descent. While the exuberant purple flowering bark vetch seems to encourage us from the roadside, we learn from our guide how best to descend. Dropper-post down, stand on the pedals and buttocks above the rear wheel. Two fingers around the brake, brake before the turn and then let it roll.
Slinging down
We meander down the flanks of the mountain on single tracks and 4×4 trails. In doing so, we choose the green route, the beginner's route that is also very doable if you have little experience. Here we choose a combination of the DH1 Easy Rider with the DH4 Girauds. Then we cycle despite the sign with Route Barrée sneak another part of the new asphalt cycle path towards Val Thorens.
New roads
Our guide tells us that the white lines have yet to be set, but that the trail will officially open in a few days. We stop briefly at the mirror-smooth Lac des Échauds, a clear blue mountain lake. There, I cannot resist temptation and quickly take off all my cycling clothes. In bib shorts and sports bra I dive into the fresh water, while a little further on a fishing family frowns at my floundering. After this dip down-hill we bravely return to our starting point via, among others, the slightly more difficult blue route DH6 Bruyères. Time to celebrate this varied bike ride with a delicious lunch.
Balcony trail: an adventurous enduro route
My travelling companions take the ski lift to La Masse a day later to enjoy the view. I get on my bike again and this time a nice off-road one. It earns me admiring glances from hikers along the way. The guide is overjoyed that I am open to an adventurous and challenging route. He suggests we explore the longer 'balcony trail'. A beautiful route over the mountain sides, where forest, green slopes and rocks alternate. There is no part really flat when cycling in Vallee des Belleville. Occasionally, you are treated to tough short climbs that demand a lot from your steering and your power. Wonderful off-road, which is also definitely suitable on a gravel bike.
A little help
With melancholy, I think back to the electric support of the e-mtb. At the same time, I enjoy the acidification in my legs and my high heart rate. We dwell on the beautiful views in the area. Meanwhile, my guide talks about wolves, the refuges and the history of the valley. Occasionally, we spot a marmot scurrying away. We traverse mountain streams and sometimes have to lift our bikes over rocks. Very occasionally we meet a local hiker, but otherwise we have this wonderful route to ourselves. Finally, we descend again to Saint-Martin de Velleville via a single track and an off-road path. There we then catch the free shuttle bus back to Les Menuires . Sweaty, covered in mud splashes and exhausted, I sink into the chair. This is the cycling I love. What a fantastic route. Cycling in Vallée des Belleville is enjoyment.
Many more active adventures
If you go cycling Vallée de Belleville, you will be spoilt for choice. In addition, you can enjoy a whole range of other active adventures. Do you want a different day? Then read our article to fill your rest day with a trip to, for example, a glacier. Then you will get a nice impression of all the other possibilities.
Suitable for cyclists of all levels
The regions are therefore suitable for cyclists of all levels. Overview maps can be found for when you want to seek adventure off-road. Downhillers and enduro cyclists, among others, are in for a treat. You can buy a map HERE download, but you can also plan a route in Komoot.
The same goes for cross-country/e-mtb and, of course, gravel riders. There is plenty to see and do in this beautiful area. The latest information on routes and opportunities can be found via this LINK
2 responses
Nice and informative story.
Bit unfortunate about the language errors...
This is unmistakably one of the superlative works I've perused on this topic.
Kudos!