I have listed more climbs in the Savoie than I have in the Haute-Savoie, but any in the latter is new.
Those will have to go on the “must do” list – well, most of them anyway 🤪
If I have time left, which is doubtful, I can look elsewhere.
This post is about my options for a Prologue and they are plenty…
Like in 2021 and 2022 I will start my Tour in the Isère, which gives me a few options to stitch a Prologue together.
Bourg-d’Oisans
From the many climbs in this region, I do not have a lot left within travel/cycling distance of Albertville.
La Bérarde is off the table – long dead end, wrong direction – but Auris-en-Oisans would fill in a gap on my Wandrer profile, possibly – but not very likely – combined with the dead end up to Le Rosai…
Circling back to Huez via the Col de Sarenne, would mean a car transfer to Albertville from there as I doubt I will have time be able to get up the Col du Glandon (again)…
Jumping on the Col du Lautaret at Lac du Chambon and continue over the Col du Galibier (#87) means a repeat of 2022, but it may be my best option.
Another alternative is starting with the Col du Glandon, followed by the Col de la Madeleine. That would also be a tough start to my Tour…
Grenoble
Instead of near Bourg-d’Oisans, I can also start my Prologue in/near Grenoble.
There are even more in this area than there are in Bourg-d’Oisans…
The problem is that there are no (big) cols traversing into the Maurienne valley, only dead ends left and right until you cross into the Savoie near Pontcharra.
Then again, I would add – many – more new trophies to my “Been There, Done That” list, provided the col markers are above 1,000 meters…
Staying on the right bank of the Isère river, I can tackle a few climbs from the south and end up back on the main road – D523 – a few kilometers further north.
These are:
- Col de la Coche
- La Croix de Pinette
- Côte de Revel
- Pré du Fourneau
- Col des Mouilles
- Col des Ayes
- Col du Barioz
- Super Collet
4 are above 1,000 meters, Super Collet the only one seriously so.
I can also travel “the balcony”, i.e. get up the Col de la Coche or La Croix de Pinette and travel the D280/D525:
The left bank – along the D1090 – has less up-and-down options, but the climbs are:
- Col de Porte (#74) – can be extended up to Charmant Som
- Col du Coq – if I would start with the Col de Porte, I’d either have to get down this one or leave it and jump on the
- Col du Cucheron (#73) – the leg breaker up to La Scia is best avoided, I reckon…
As this last climb leaves me at the wrong side of the mountain range and leads to Chambéry, I might opt for the Col du Coq descend and continue with these:
- Col de Marcieu
- Sainte Marie du Mont – I’d have to get down to La Flachere first
Except this last one, all cols on this end are above 1,000 meters…
Doing a “balcony ride” similar to the one on the right bank, is probably the better option.
I’d start with the Col de Porte and follow the D512/D912:
The Col du Cucheron and Col de Porte need to climbed from the other end for VeloViewers “100 Greatest” list, which means I need to construct another stage for those.
It is possible to get the Col du Granier (#72) into that as well, starting the stage near Chambéry…
