Le Salève the Steep Way (video)
By Will • Apr 20th, 2009 • Category: Climbs, CyclingMy mountain behind home.
My mountain behind home.
Today, I was the camera-man while Doreen, Katy, Martin, Eric, and almost 30,000 (!) others ran the Geneva Escalade.
It was riding through the vineyards and quiet countryside west of Geneva that first got me passionate about cycling a few years back (long before it ever occurred to me to cycle up an Alp).
Doreen just gets better with age!
Today she ran the Geneva half marathon, shattering her time from two years ago.
The sign at the top said Combe Blanche. My book says Col de Puthod and Michelin maps says Col de la Vattay.
Regardless it’s a fantsatic, steep, deserted climb in the Jura mountains.
One of the great rides from Geneva – 127 kms and about 1700 metres (5600 feet) of climb.
Given that I am now a member of Team Poseur, I was of course more worried about eating than riding. So we stopped for lunch at the Chateau de Clermont for a three course feast – very civilized.
The 62nd Tour de Romandie started today. Romandie (Romandy) is the French region of Switzerland so the entire Tour is near me. Eric, Katy and I went to watch the prologue on the lake front of downtown Geneva.
Yes, the Dauphinée will climb Le Salève up the super steep route from Collonge-Sous-Salève just behind my house.
It is rated category one but features 4 kilometres averaging 12% – with a full kilometre averaging 13%. This is steep!
There is a Grande Randonnée (GR) hiking route along the top of La Vuache and someone had recently asked me if it was do-able by bike.
Today – with Eric and Jason – the idea was to find out.
I spend a lot of time searching for climbs.
But it’s worth remembering how much fun relaxed, social rides can be with friends.