Actually, it should be a challenge, or perhaps a cycling passport for Crans-Montana and surroundings. Ticking off all the dams or 'barrages' around the Swiss spa town. The variations are many and each dam has its own beauty. We drove up earlier to Lac de Tseuzier. You could call this the 'introductory climb' on the cycling passport. Still a hefty climb, but shorter than the other options. The other options? The climb to Lac des Dix (the Barrage du Grand Dixence, a monstrously beautiful climb), but also include the climb to Mauvoisin or the smaller Cleuson. In this episode, we tackle the climb to Barrage de Moiry and its reservoir. Whether this was a breeze? You can read about that further on.
text: Sander Kolsloot - photos: Mark Heij - Sander Kolsloot
First down
We ride down. In Crans-Montana, it is almost a must to ride down first and then find the way up again. You can start the descent from Crans-Montana in different ways. Towards Sion or towards Sierre, it often means a nice succession of bends and a swing through the vineyards. Beautiful pictures guaranteed. In any case, we descend in the direction of Sierre, because there we cross to Val d'Anniviers. This is where the magnificent climb towards the Barrage de Moiry starts.
The climb - part 1
As we start the climb, it is still partly cloudy. It provides some cover from the hot sun. Even the first hill itself, still provides some cover. The first kilometres are immediately enjoyable. A nice short winding with hairpins, most reminiscent of Lacets de Montvernier anyway, invites pictures, oeh's and aah's and a nice start. Immediately after this section you drive up along the ridge and have the snow peaks in the background. The view is breathtaking. The climb itself is not yet very tough and you can find a good pace. We enjoy it to the full and the clicks of the cameras and iPhones say it all. It is truly magnificent.
First stop Vissoie
We arrive in the village of Vissoie. Subconsciously, I can actually only read 'fish oil'. The local bakery invites a short stop to munch on some local delicacies. Other than the issues with electronic payment, it's a fine stop. Reminder that cash is still king. It is also the start of the second part of the climb. From here it heads towards Grimentz and from there it's quite a way to the final summit.
Continuing up to the dam
Straight to Vissoie you ride a short, sharp descent, again with a few tight hairpin turns. You pass a mini reservoir and from there we go 'Swiss' climbing again. It now gets steeper and more irregular, but for now you are spared the double digits. As soon as you reach the village of Grimentz (wave to our friend Yves) then the weather gets really tough. One thing is a constant: the view of the snowy peaks. It doesn't stop there. The landscape also slowly gets a bit barer, because remember: you eventually climb to 2250 metres altitude! That's above the tree line and so you end up on a sort of moonscape.
To the top
The climb from Grimentz is a bruiser of a climb in itself. Nearly seven kilometres, with an average heading towards eight or nine per cent. The signs along the side, indicating the climb by kilometre, are sometimes painful to the eyes. Oh well, then just look around me again. It really is beautiful. A climb to a dam is something special anyway because, by definition, you are driving towards a big wall. It also means that the road builders have had another go at finding a way to get all the way to the top. In the case of the Barrage de Moiry, they chose to use the left side of the valley for the final kilometres. You arrive against the right side wall and so you briefly make the crossing at the bottom of the dam. This is different from, say, Grand-Dixence. Again, as with Lac de Dix, the last kilometre is the toughest. It is plodding uphill and when the little tunnel is in sight I think: finally flat! because a tunnel = flat. Right? Nothing could be further from the truth. 10% plus! At the top, it's a rest.
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Breathtaking summit and then descend again
At the top, we make time to look around. We meet a Dutch couple who want to shoot some drone images of us. We also marvel at the view and the beautiful blue lake (which is relatively empty, though). At the summit, you can eat something, although the menu is mainly savoury Swiss specialities, with lots of cheese. If it's not your thing, take the downhill. Speaking of that downhill. That really is a beautiful thing though. Although a few bits of tarmac are a bit slippery and some pebbles on the road, it is a descent you can attack. Relatively little traffic and quite manageable. The seven kilometres back to Grimentz are over in no time. There we stop briefly for a piece of local dough with tomato sauce. Prices are a bit 'inflated' but still manageable. Then it's full speed down again towards Saint-Jean and Vissoie. Remember: at Vissoie you have to climb again for a while, before descending again towards Sierre.
Route Barrage de Moiry
This route draws from Crans-Montana towards Lac de Moiry. We finally decided to take the climb back to Crans-Montana skip it and take the funicular up. €10 well spent.
