{"id":19465,"date":"2024-10-09T11:47:22","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T09:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=19465"},"modified":"2026-09-29T19:45:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T19:45:01","slug":"downhilling-around-bourg-saint-maurice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/frankrijk\/downhillen-rondom-bourg-saint-maurice","title":{"rendered":"Downhill around Bourg Saint Maurice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone for a while. Robbert was in his comfort zone for two weeks. Bourg Saint Maurice<\/a> And you can\u2019t just go cycling every day. Right? He takes it a little differently, with a day of mountain biking. What\u2019s more, downhill biking itself. Those are some great tips for a long holiday in this alpine paradise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Train up <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we go to Les Arcs for a day and take the funicular up, the train is full of mountain bikers again. They all wear body protection and there are stickers on the windows saying: \"No mountain biking here.\" fullface<\/em> helmet on the handlebars. As we go up in a chairlift, I see the same mountain bikers descending down the slope. That sounds like fun to me too. I decide to just do it! In Les Arcs, I rent a Scott Mountainbike and the corresponding protective gear. I also buy a day pass for the chairlifts. The cost of a mountainbike (including helmet and protective gear) is \u20ac79. Since it\u2019s Saturday, a day pass for the chairlifts costs only \u20ac18. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Bourg
Having fun crossing the mountain with this MTB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Have you ever cycled before?\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bike rental company asks if I have cycled before. I answer that I regularly ride my mountain bike in the Netherlands, but that downhill riding is still unfamiliar to me. The advice: Avoid the black route; green is for children, red and blue are suitable. I cycle to the first chairlift and put my bike in the seats. Once I get to the top, I initially take the wide gravel paths down. I just stick to the Les Arcs signs and get to know the bike and downhill riding a little better. With a big grin and full of adrenaline, I get down. During the second run, I pass a blue sign with \u2018downhill legend\u2019. I doubt if I am already a legend, but it is a blue color, so I should be able to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear as a bad advisor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Again, here is the rule: Vake is too scary<\/em>. The trail down is a delightful flow trail. Saddle down and go. Turn after turn, small jumps and non-stop pedaling. In the middle I have to stop for a moment to catch my breath and let my tired calves relax. What a treat. As I enjoy the view for a moment, a father and his 10-year-old son pass by. They are clearly skilled at downhill riding, because the son has a pace I have great respect for.<br>All in all, I make the trip up the chairlift about 5 times and every time I come down with a big smile on my face. What a great experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoying the mountains more often in the mountain sports paradise of Bourg Saint Maurice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I spent two weeks in Bourg Saint Maurice with my wife and daughter. If you like mountains, this is truly the ultimate place. I did 4 bike rides with my race bike and 3 hikes in the mountains. I also rented electric mountain bikes for a day to go out with my wife and daughter through the Tarentaise Valley. The climb with an e-mtb to Cote d\u2019Aime was easy for them. Especially the wide smile on our daughter\u2019s face after descending was priceless. And the downhill? I definitely want to do that again<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read also: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n