In the French Vallée des Belleville, your heart will beat faster. The region is especially known for its ski resorts. Les Menuires, Val Thorens en Saint-Martin de Belleville. From downhill trails for all levels and beautiful enduro MTB trails to the tough Col de la Tougnète on the race bike – this region in the French Alps is increasingly establishing itself as a summer destination for active and adventurous travelers. Besides cycling, on ‘rest days’ you can, for example, go hiking, go glacier hiking, climb a real ‘Via Ferrata’ and cool off in one of the breathtakingly beautiful mountain lakes. Cycling in the Vallée des Belleville is truly cycling in a paradise – a paradise for the adventurous cyclist!
Text and photos: Ruth Koops van ’t Jagt
Vallee des Belleville: 1 valley, 3 destinations, a paradise for adventurous cyclists
In the Vallée des Belleville you will find the French winter sports destinations of Saint-Martin de Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens. Although many cyclists have so far chosen the neighboring regions, the valley is developing into a beautiful summer mountain paradise for adventurous cyclists. There are, for example, beautiful paved cycling routes from Val Thorens and Les Menuires to the Col de La Tougnète (2434m). If everything goes well, in 2023 you will even be able to cycle from Val Thorens and Les Menuires to Méribel via this brand new cycling trail, which is only accessible to cyclists. As a mountain biker, you will also be in your element here. Whether you enjoy a challenging downhill track or prefer to explore the enduro trails on the mountain ridges.
The new Col de La Tougnète
On the day that the real bikers will be riding their road bikes Tougnète climb (a short tour with a challenging climb of the Tougnète) we make it a little easier for ourselves. From Les Menuires, at an altitude of over 1800 meters, we tackle this final climb of the Col de la Loze on our e-mountain bikes. We start with La Croisette, where after a sharp turn to the right we swing around to the flat building of Le Brelin and make the first really steep and challenging meters. This way we leave Les Menuires behind us and cycle along a beautiful winding new bike path towards the Tougnète, whose summit is at almost 2400 meters.
View
The views over the Alpe peaks And the green slopes of the mountains are breathtaking. Along the way we encounter all kinds of cyclists: retirees on e-mountain bikes and seasoned race cyclists who are just about holding on in the most difficult sections. Once we reach the top, the view of Méribel and Mont Blanc is fantastic. On top of the Tougnète, we also encounter heavily packed downhill riders, who grin from their full-face helmets. They have taken the lift up from Méribel or Saint-Martin and will be descending down via one of the many tracks.
Daring downhill riding and a bibshort dip
After we have pushed ourselves to the limit at the top (even with support, the final stretch with sections of 20-27% is quite challenging), we start our off-road descent as well. While the exuberantly purple blooming barberry seems to encourage us from the roadside, our guide teaches us how to descend best. Dropping down the steep slope, standing on the pedals and feet above the rear wheel. Two fingers on the brake, braking before the bend and then rolling.
Slurping down
We swing over single tracks and 4×4 trails down the slopes of the mountain. We choose the green route, the beginners route, which is also very easy to do if you have little experience. Here we choose a combination of the DH1 Easy Rider and the DH4 Girauds. Then we cycle despite the sign with Route Barrée Secretly, part of the new asphalt bike path towards Val Thorens.
New roads
Our guide tells us that the white lines still need to be drawn, but that the trail will officially open in a few days. We stop briefly at the mirror-clear Lac des Échauds, a bright blue mountain lake. I can’t resist the temptation and quickly take off all my cycling gear. In bib shorts and a sports bra, I dive into the fresh water, while just a little further on a fishing family is frowning at me. After this dip down the hill, we bravely return to our starting point via, among other things, the slightly more difficult blue route DH6 Bruyères. Time to celebrate this varied cycling trip with a delicious lunch.
Balcony trail: an adventurous enduro route
My traveling companions take the ski lift to La Masse the next day to enjoy the view there. I get back on my bike and this time a nice off-road model. It brings me admiring looks from hikers along the way. The guide is delighted that I’m open to an adventurous and challenging route. He suggests that we explore the longer ‘balcony trail’. A beautiful route over the mountain slopes, where forest, green slopes, and rocks alternate. There’s no part that’s really flat when you’re cycling in Vallee des Belleville. Every now and then you’re treated to steep short climbs that require a lot of your riding skills and your ability to control the bike. Beautiful off-road, which is also definitely suitable on the gravel bike.
A little help
With wistful thoughts, I recall the electric support of the e-mtb. At the same time, I enjoy the acidity in my legs and my high heart rate. We pause to contemplate the beautiful views in the surroundings. Meanwhile, my guide talks about wolves, the refuges, and the history of the valley. Every now and then, we see a marmot take off. We cross mountain streams and sometimes have to lift our bike over the rocks. Every now and then, we encounter a local hiker, but otherwise we have this wonderfully beautiful route to ourselves. In the end, we descend back to Saint-Martin de Velleville via a single track and an off-road path. There, we then take the free shuttle bus back to Les Menuires. Sweaty, covered in mud, and exhausted, I fall into the seat. This is the cycling I love. What a fantastic route. Cycling in Vallée des Belleville is pure enjoyment.
Even more active adventures
If you’re going cycling in the Vallée de Belleville, there’s plenty of choice. Additionally, you can experience a whole range of other active adventures. Want to spend a day doing something a little different? Then read our article to fill your day off with a trip to, for example, a glacier. That will give you a good impression of all the other options.
Suitable for cyclists of all levels
The regions are therefore suitable for cyclists of all levels. Overview maps can be found if you want to explore the off-road adventure. Among others, the downhillers and enduro cyclists will be delighted. You can buy a map at HERE download it, but you can also plan a route in Komoot.
The same applies to cross-country/e-mtb and of course gravel riders. There is plenty to see and do in this beautiful area. The latest information regarding routes and possibilities can be found via this link. LINK
0 responses
Beautiful and informative story.
A bit disappointing about the language errors…
This is unmistakably one of the superlative works I’ve perused on this topic.
Well done!