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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
This stunning tour to the Col de la Croix de Fer at 2,068 m altitude, where the Eau d’Olle rises, will no doubt leave you with a lasting memory! A wonderful scenic route!
From Bourg-d’Oisans follow the RN91 towards Grenoble. In Rochetaillée follow the D526 towards Allemont. Go through Allemont towards Lake Verney and then towards Rivier-d’Allemont-Grand Maison. Make use of the long flat stretch along the lake to warm up properly before making the climb up to Rivier.
From the tip of the lake the road rises steeply up to Rivier. From Le Rivier four hairpin bends will take you back down to the stream of l’Eau d’Olle. From its banks you will have a regular but strenuous climb up to the Grand Maison barrage. Now you will have completed the hardest part and will find your rhythm all the way up to the pass.
L’Oisans and its 6 valleys: The valley of l’Eau d’Olle
The valley of L’Eau d’Olle forms a link to neighbouring Savoy via the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer, winding their way through the Grandes Rousses and Belledonne mountains.
The valley is named after the Latin word olla, because its upper part is shaped like a saucepan. The inhabitants of this valley, which is also nicknamed "the garden of l’Oisans", above all lived on farming activities. Wood-processing, the extraction of gold from the gold mines of Demoiselles, silver-mining in Chalanches, iron and later slate manufacturing in Articol, while tailoring for the glove-making industry would help the local inhabitants supplement their basic incomes.
Since the end of the Second World War, the valley has seen a slow but inevitable decline, until the big EDF hydropower plant of Grand Maison was opened in 1986. This power plant has enabled local towns and communities to refocus their economic activities on tourism development.
L’Eau d’Olle is also the name of a lovely mountain-bike tour which is not to be missed! The VEL’EAU D’OLLE takes place in the middle of June each year, with 6 itineraries ranging from 8 to 55 km.
For further information please contact the Tourist Information Office in Allemont: +33 (0) 4 76 80 71 60.
"If old age means you’re drowning, the bicycle is no doubt one of the safest means which may keep you from drowning." - Raymond Poulidor
