| From Alpe d'Huez - west - [Average gradient:
3.8% - Maximum gradient :
9.8% - Distance 9km - Height gain 150m]
From Barage du Chambon - east - [Average gradient:7.5% - Maximum gradient :
13.3% - Distance 13km - Height gain 954m]
The Col de Sarenne is a narrow undulating road that continues
on passed the Alpe d'Huez ski resort and tops out 9 km further
on at 2000 metres. It is a beautiful road that although close
to civilization feels really quite remote, partly due to the fact
that parts of the road are a little rough (indeed in the winter
this route makes up the longest black ski run in Europe) and
partly because it can be very quiet. Once at
the top of the Col de Sarenne there is a huge technical switchback
road descent down to the Barage du Chambon at the foot of Les Deux
Alpes.
The route can also be tackled the other way around from the Barage du Chambon and is a big climb but it does mean that you
get to descend the 21 bends of Alpe d'Huez. |
