Col des Prés
By Will • Jan 28th, 2008 • Category: Climbs, Cycling, Snow
The Climb (from Chambery): 19.5 kms (12.1 miles) Ascent: 950 metres (3,115 feet)
Chambery is one of those French Alps towns that is made for cyclists. Down low, there is a very well developed network of cycling paths - and on all sides are fantastic climbs into the mountains.
Pré means meadow in French - so Col des Prés clumsily translated means “mountain pass of the meadows” (which makes sense as at the top it opens up into alpine meadows).
I started outside Chambery to minimize the first few busyish kilometres. After St Jean d’Arvey, it’s becomes a very nice wide-open, quiet road, that winds up the side of the mountain.
I hadn’t expected to get lost, but I came to an intersection with no signs and took the “up” road, not remembering there was a descent in the middle of the climb. Fortunately, this led to a superb little detour through the woods and a couple of tiny villages. No harm no foul.
While a fair bit of snow near the top, the roads were perfectly cleared. On the descent I considered detouring to Col de Planpalais - but my legs told me to call it a day.
Note: There is also a Col du Pré, a fantastic climb above Beaufort.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2008 Challenge is to (again) cycle 160,000 metres of vertical ascent.
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Will,
Is this your idea of a reco ride ride?
Clearly you weren’t pushing hard enough up La Vuache
Undomesticated Domestique
oops I thought when you said reco you meant reconaissance not recovery