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Cormet de Roselend via Col du Pré

By • Jul 25th, 2007 • Category: Climbs, Cycling, Favorites

My Fat Cyclist Jersey arrived and i was thrilled to christen it by riding up the Cormet de Roselend, a beautiful climb that was part of Stage 8 of this year’s Tour de France via the classic north route via Col du Meraillet.

Fat Cyclist is a terrific cycling blog run by the Fat Cyclist – that I enjoy reading. The beautiful pink cycling shirts are in support of his wife Susan who is bravely battling cancer – with proceeds going to the Lance Armstrong foundation. It was an honor to wear pink today. Photos below.

Here is a link if interested in buying a smart, pink shirt for a good cause

Col du Pré

Cormet de Roselend was part of Stage 8 in the Tour this year – and also in the Tour in 2005. It’s a truly beautiful climb with a giant dam plus lake at 1600 metres and great views of Mont Blanc at the top (road reaches just under 2,000 metres).

col_du_pre.jpg I had climbed the classic Tour route via the Col du Meraillet in 2005. So today, along with Barry and his new bike, we decided to climb via the much harder Col du Pré (this route is described as “Mythic” by the Beaufort Tourist office). The climb starts right from Beaufort, so we rode briefly towards Albertville to warm up a bit.

Not sure about Mythic, but Col du Pré certainly is steep. This is cycling country so the climb has kilometre markers announcing the altitude and the steepness of each kilometere, including the 2nd last kilometre averaging 10.7%! Hard work and lots of hairpins.

At the top, views of the lake and mountains are stunning. This way then descends down for a couple of kilometres, crosses the dam itself, and rejoins the classic route for the climb up to Cormet de Roselend. Around 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) of climb – a big day.

For a more challenging and quiet ascent of Roselend, Col du Pré is the way to go. But if descending back to Beaufort, take the classic way down (turn right at Col du Meraillet) for a wider, less technical and much better surfaced road.

Col du Pré

Col du Pré Cormet de Roselend


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is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2013 Challenge is to cycle a 150 Cols (mountain passes), slowly -- and to just enjoy.
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11 Responses »

  1. SprocketboySprocketboy on July 25th, 2007 at 9:55 am:

    You look good in that jersey! I will wear mine this weekend and get photographed somewhere suitably Washingtonian.

    Do you have a nice GPS profile of this ride to show us?

  2. WillWill on July 25th, 2007 at 10:00 am:

    Hi Leslie

    GPS profile added.

    The little flat bit in the middle is basically riding over the damn and beside the Lake after descending from the Col du Pré.

    Regards

    Will

  3. Cormet de Roselend : Cycling Challenge PhotoblogCormet de Roselend : Cycling Challenge Photoblog on November 10th, 2007 at 11:04 am:

    [...] Stage 8 2007 Tour de France: Blog Entry [...]

  4. Cycling Challenge » Cormet de Roselend - Classic North RouteCycling Challenge » Cormet de Roselend - Classic North Route on November 24th, 2007 at 8:28 am:

    [...] classic North route reaches the Dam via the Col de Méraillet. A more challenging and quieter route to this point is via the amazing Col de Pré – also starting in Beaufort. There is a huge billboard/map in the center of Beaufort describing [...]

  5. Lost Boys 2008 Tour d’Enfer - Day 2 Preview : Cycling ChallengeLost Boys 2008 Tour d’Enfer - Day 2 Preview : Cycling Challenge on January 26th, 2008 at 4:55 pm:

    [...] For very strong riders (I’ll be skipping it!) there is a fantastic alternate – much harder – way up to the lake via Col du Pré (marked in red on the map). This very steep climb finishes well above the lake (see photo above), then descends to rejoin the classic route after crossing the dam itself. More info here. [...]

  6. Col des Prés : Cycling ChallengeCol des Prés : Cycling Challenge on January 28th, 2008 at 4:55 pm:

    [...] There is also a Col du Pré, a fantastic climb above [...]

  7. Beaufort: Five Great Cycling Climbs in Cheese Country : Cycling ChallengeBeaufort: Five Great Cycling Climbs in Cheese Country : Cycling Challenge on May 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am:

    [...] Blog Post | Get Google Map, Google Earth or GPX File [...]

  8. Martin SigristMartin Sigrist on September 17th, 2008 at 9:11 pm:

    Don’t know about mythic but do think the col du Pres was my favourite new climb of 2008. Quiet and peaceful with great views and a very pleasant contrast to the more popular but busier nearby “tour” climbs. Bizarre that the official col is 1703m while highest bit (and those the km/% signs refer to) is higher?

  9. 10 Great Cycling Climbs to Alpine Dams/Lakes : Cycling Challenge10 Great Cycling Climbs to Alpine Dams/Lakes : Cycling Challenge on June 15th, 2010 at 9:42 am:

    [...] While there is a direct way up via Col du Meraillet, the better route is via the super steep Col du Pré. This allows superb views from above the Lake – as well as letting you ride over the dam itself on the way to Roselend. Remember the lake is several kilometres below the summit. Details here. [...]

  10. Cormet de Roselend, Lac de la Gittaz, and 2 Touring Tips : Cycling ChallengeCormet de Roselend, Lac de la Gittaz, and 2 Touring Tips : Cycling Challenge on June 27th, 2010 at 10:44 pm:

    [...] route up Cormet de Roselend via Col du Pré – and great views of the lake – see here. Bike route 562014 – powered by Bikemap  Tagged as: "cormet de roselend", alps, [...]

  11. Col Hunting in the Bauges Alps : Cycling ChallengeCol Hunting in the Bauges Alps : Cycling Challenge on December 5th, 2011 at 7:57 pm:

    [...] Don’t confuse Col des Prés with the much tougher and more beautiful Col du Pré, near Cormet de Roselend. See here. [...]

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