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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
Climbing
On this rather strenuous itinerary you will have a rather charming view on a lovely sunny mountainside facing the glaciers of the Grandes Rousses massif and the waterfalls of La Fare.
From Bourg-d’Oisans follow the RN91 towards Grenoble; then turn right and follow the D526 to Allemont. Go through Allemont and climb the two hairpin bends to the Lake Verney. Then cycle along the lake until you reach the junction of the D43a to Vaujany. When you come to Vaujany, follow the winding road in the direction of "la route du Bessey - table d’orientation" (road to Le Bessey - panoramic viewpoint).
You will get 5 km of winding road leading to the viewpoint of the shaft at 1,707 m altitude which overlooks much of the Belledonne range, the ’Eau d’Olle valley, the Taillefer, the Grandes Rousses mountains etc.
That little bit further
From here you can also catch up with itinerary no. 16 to the Col du Sabot.
So what is the "surge shaft"?
The "surge shaft" is the giant pipe of the most powerful hydropower plant in France called Grand Maison. The shaft, which is located at 1,700 m altitude, is in fact a tank that is 200 m high and 10 m in diameter, entirely steel-insulated. Its role is crucial: it helps to prevent the effects of shock pressure waves in the pressure pipelines when the valves, which are located 750 m below, are closed. The effects of such pressure waves would be no less than those of the water-hammer!
"Stopping when you’re riding a bicycle is the same as falling off." - Louis Mermaz
