The Ascents

The climbing of mountains and passes is what it’s all about when you are cycling in the Alps, and there are plenty to choose from in the Oisans valley.  As well as the big ones you will have probably heard of such as Alpe D’Huez, the Col du Galibier, and the Col du Glandon & Col de la Croix der Fer, there are plenty of others to explore in this region.  Bourg D’Oisans borders the largest national park in France, the Park Ecrins, and stunning scenery is everywhere. To see where the main cols and climbs are in relation to Bourg D’Oisans, go to the map on the How to Find Us page and zoom out four or five times.  The pictures below are all taken on climbs local to Bourg D’Oisans.....

The climbs in the area can be up to 13% but more importantly 25km or more (fortunately not both!) In order to be comfortable for a days riding, you’ll need either a compact chainset with a 27 or 28 tooth large sprocket, or a triple chainset. You’ll need to be top flight climber if you want to ride all day with a standard chainset (or get a huge dinner plate for a rear sprocket!)

See the How fit do I need to be? page for more info on what to expect when riding in the Alps.

There are many different routes and climbs accessible from Bourg D’Oisans, and during our training camps we can take you on rides ranging from 20 - 30km of (relatively) flat riding up to mammoth all day rides of 170km with 5000m of ascent included.  For those days when you don’t want to commit until you see how your legs feel, there are plenty of local options for rides that take in some great climbs but without straying too far from Bourg D’Oisans.  That way, if you want to cut your ride short, or add an extra climb, you can.  This is also a good option on those rare days when the weather forecast is not looking so great.