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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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MTB Trails
in Oisans :
- » Cross country
- » Freeride
- » DownHill
- » Raid
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Season's events
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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
Freeride
Leave one car at Villar-d’Arène on the square in front of the church and another at the Col du Galibier. The other solution, of course, is to cycle up to the Col du Galibier from Villar-d’Arène. Difficult to resist such a mythical climb! If so, add 13km on the road and a 1015m height gain (with a 6.9% gradient) from Lautaret…
This is a really lovely beginner’s descent on the old road down from the pass, facing the spectacular Meije.
All the landmarks are there for you to admire, including the Glacier de l’Homme, Glacier du Fauteuil, Pic Gaspard and the Doigt de Dieu.
Start off at the Desgranges stone marker and go round a ruined house lower down, behind which the path begins. Cross the road to take the "Chemin du Galibier" on the other side.
Ride down the bends of this peaceful path to the Col du Lautaret road, where you turn right to reach the col (2 km, gradual slope). This is the old road – the “new” one dates from 1938 – stop for a minute to imagine the cyclists from the 1911 Tour de France making their way up here… Once at the col, in line with the wooden drinking trough, look for the GR 50 path which passes through the peat bogs. This narrow path runs parallel to the road, winding its way through the pasture.
Cross the road once again and carry on the path to the hamlet of Le Pied du Col, where you follow the road down for 200m before turning off to the right onto a track. When the track finishes, ride by sight towards Villar-d’Arène, accessible via the GR 50.
Take care not to stay on the GR path to la Grave, as it goes through the Ecrins National Park which is strictly off-limits to mountain bikes.
