Itinerary

The official TDMB is a permanent 323 km randonee run by the CTC Chambery and does not take in the last part of the route that we have selected – it cuts from Flumet straight back to Chamonix. With our route I would suggest making a 4-day trip of things by over-nighting in Aoste, Bourg St Maurice and La Clusaz, although you could do it in three days if you’re feeling fit.

The (major) climbs

Coil des Montets 1461 meters
Col des Forclaz 1527 meters
Col du Grand St Bernard 2469 meters
Col du Petite St Bernard 2188 meters
Cornet de Roseland 1968 meters
Col des Saisies 1633 meters
Col des Aravis 1498 meters
Col de la Colombiere 1618 meters

Getting there

The best option for getting to) is via Geneva airport. Most international airlines serve the airport, including budget operator Easyjet. From the airport it’s an easy one-hour drive to Chamonix. Just about all-major car hire companies have desks at the airport, and rates are reasonable in Switzerland.

Accommodation

If you intend to make this a self-supported trip then I would suggest simply showing up in town and taking a stroll around. There is no shortage of lodging options here, though of course it can get busy at peak times and during French national holidays. Expect to pay around 25-60 Euros per room night here and elsewhere along the route.

For further information and bookings check out:

When to go

The best times to tackle this ride are between early June and late September, when the weather is at it’s best and the passes should be open. Even so it pays to check the listed web sites in advance as the weather could turn and block some of the higher passes at any time of the year.

Be sure to be prepared for everything weather-wise from searing heat to snow showers when riding in the high Alps.

Food and drink

Take a few days to tackle this one

Our ride is predominantly based around the Haute Savoie region, so local dishes figure high on most menus. Being so mountainous you can expect plenty of potatoes, meat and cheese in these dishes; taritiflette (potatoes baked in cheese and cream sauce), cheese fondues and raclette (self grilled potatoes, ham and cheese) are perhaps the most typical of local dishes, although you can get just about anything you desire food wise.

Chamonix is very ‘anglofied’, and as such has plenty of pizzerias, Chinese and even Mexican restaurants, while things are far more traditionally Italian in Aoste.

There are plenty of good local ales (especially the whisky beers) and the Savoie region produces some decent red wines (largely Gamay). While passing briefly into the Swiss Valais try and pick up a bottle of the local Valasian white wine, which is very good and hardly gets seen outside of the region.

Other riding in the area

If you want to take on the Gospel Pass then there are several other option of a similar distance; you could head along the Golden Valley (quite flat) to Ewyas Harold then turn right and follow the lanes to pick up the pass road. Or for a slightly shorter, but hillier, option follow the steep climb through the lanes which run parallel to the pass (to the north and through Longtown) and then re-trace over the pass.

A longer option would be to extend west from Llangorse to Brecon, and then head back to the original route along the Usk Valley.

Getting there

Hay on Wye is situated to the northeastern tip of the Brecon Beacons National Park, and right on the English/Welsh border. The flat and picturesque Wye Valley and the River Wye pass through the western fringe of the town, as does the main A438, which provides good and fast road access to the city of Hereford to the east (25 miles).

Hereford provides good road access from the north and the midlands, and also has a main line rail station. Head southwest for around 15 miles and you reach Brecon, another great base for riding in the area, while southeast you have Abergavenny – another possible ride start point, and mainline rail town. Abergavenny also has good fast road access to both the M5 and M4, which is ideal for access from the southwest and south midlands.

Food and drink

There are loads of cafes, teashops, and other watering holes in Hay on Wye. A really handy option is the café next to the tourist office, which is right by the car park. Out on the ride there are loads of good pubs and teashops; there are cafes and pubs in Crickhowell, and a hotel/tea shop at the old priory along the road to the Gospel Pass. If you take the longer ride option through Brecon then you will find loads of good cafes too.

Bike shops

If you’re looking for a good selection of spares and repair services then Brecon is the best bet where there are two decent shops (Brecon Cycles is near the bridge to the west end of town). There are several very good shops in Hereford too, and a decent shop in Abergavenny.

Accommodation

In and around this area there is no shortage of accommodation of all kinds. There is a Youth Hostel on the route its self (at the foot of Gospel Pass) and another larger hostel just outside of Brecon. For details call Hay tourist info 01497 820144.

Introducing Steve Thomas Steve is one of the UK’s leading bicycle travel journalists. He has written extensively for Cycling Plus and ProCycling on routes and rides accross the globe. Our hope is to bring you a ride a week, with great pictures, details of how to get there and an on-route direction finder. We’d also like to hear about your rides too, good pictures and descriptions of your local training and riding routes, so we can share them with RCUK’s readers. So please e-mail us your rides.