Cormet de Roselend is without doubt one of the extra lovely climbs within the Alps. However bear in mind, the perfect route is just not through the primary Route des Grandes Alpes street that climbs the north and south sides. As a substitute, take the third manner up through Col du Pré, just like the Critériun du Dauphiné will on June fifth.

Col du Pré is a difficult lovely climb with 26 hairpins and excessive mountain views in all instructions. And simply past the summit is without doubt one of the nice views within the Alps down in the direction of Lac de Roselend. And better of all? To get to Cormet de Roselend you will need to trip over the lac de Roselend dam! Rattling!

The climb to Col du Pré begins instantly in Beaufort. Nevertheless it’s after the village of Arêches the place all of the hairpins start.

Lac de Roselend remains to be not fairly full, so not fairly as lovely as in late summer season. However the views from Col du Pré are wonderful.

On the summit of Col du Pré is a superb gravel street that leads a lot excessive to La Passage de la Charmette. See this outdated publish for particulars of the south aspect of Cormet de Roselend after which this gravel journey with towering views of Lac de Roselend.

However again to the present trip: I had my drone and tried to take a number of totally different angles crossing the dam.

After the dam, the route rejoins the primary street at Col du Mérailet (1605m) and runs alongside the sting of the lake.

La Chapelle de Roselend:

The street then leaves the lake and heads increased.

There was nonetheless a good quantity of snow alongside the final couple of kilometres, however the street is effectively cleared and advantageous for street bikes.

Cormet is an area phrase for col. Above Arêches on the path to Col du Pré the street splits and one can head to a different lake/dam:
Lac de St Guérin – See right here for trip particulars. And above that’s Cormet d’Arêches at 2100m. I imagine it’s nonetheless gravel above the lake, but it surely’s now totally paved on the far aspect. See right here for a trip concept that goes far above Col d’Arêches to a few cols, one which overlooks Lac de Roselend. And see right here for an outdated trip that reaches Cormet d’Arêches after visiting a bunch of excessive gravel cols.

Lastly, as proven on the maps beneath, I descended the primary Route des Grandes Alpes street that goes on to Beaufort. However there may be some kind of development that precipitated a detour that required some climbing. Nevertheless it’s a scenic, quiet hair-pinned route. Not a foul detour though my legs had been drained.

What an important day. I can’t suggest this route sufficient. Woohoo!