My Top Ten Routes / Photos for 2013

Yes, my 2013 cycling season was cut short due to knee troubles, but I still enjoyed some great rides. Here are ten great routes along with photos that I quite liked.

Happy New Year.

#1 Lac de la Sassière & Col de la Bailletta

An amazing high altitude ride up to the Dam / Lake de la Sassière and then much higher on the remnants of an old military trail to Col de la Bailletta (2853 metres). This almost unknown climb starts near Val d’Isère.

Detailed blog post (map, photos, etc) here.

#2 Mont Ventoux Night Sessions

For the second time I participated in the night time ascent of Mont Ventoux with the boys from St- Etienne. The goal is to see the sun rise at the summit. Event organizers closed the road aboved Chalet Reynard due to high winds storm threats …. but we snuck up anyway. Much Fun.

Detailed blog post here.

#3 Grosse Scheidegg (and above)

This challenging climb in central Switzerland next to the Eiger is one of the most beautiful routes I know.

Detailed blog post here.

#4 Col du Noyer and Superdévoluy

Scouting a 2013 Dauphiné route I was thrilled to find such an interesting route with crazy hairpins. Col du Noyer is a beautiful, medium difficulty climb in the Hautes Alpes starting beside the Route Napoléon (there is a refuge Napoléon at the summit).

Detailed blog post here.

#5 Col du Galibier

Climbing both sides of Galibier on a sunny day in June is always a dream. Below a video instead of a photo.

Detailed blog post here.

#6 Hahnenmoospass and Bummerepass

Fantastically named high passes in central Switzerland. I was surprised to find Hahnenmoos fully paved on the east side. But I was prepared for unpaved and next went higher off-road to find Bummerepass and returned via the unpaved west side of Hahnenmoos. Amazing place.

Detailed blog post here.

#7 Vallée Verte Ten Col Challenge

The Vallée Verte is the scenic medium mountain region due south of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). I had done a couple of 5 col loops previously, but decided to link up ten in one ride. Woohoo.

Detailed blog post here.

#8 Alpe d’Huez, Oulles, and Col d’Ornon

One always suffers climbing Alpe d’Huez as the history motivates and the steepness hurts. But the real gem of this ride was the amazing little road up to the village of Oulles. A hidden gem that starts near Bourg d’Oisans.

Detailed blog post here.

#9 Col du Joly and Above

Col du Joly is one of the best high roads to get close up views of Mont Blanc. The Beaufort side is paved and much fun, but I decided this time to climb the east side on ski service roads. Steep, deserted and beautiful.

Detailed blog post here.

#10 Col d’Iseran (car-free day)

My last ride before injury was the higest paved mountain pass in Europe ….. with my lovely and brave wife ….. on a day the road was closed to cars. Not bad!

Detailed blog post here.

Here’s hoping we all have some great rides in 2014.

Happy New Year

Damn, I couldn’t exclude the below ride from the list. Sorry. 🙂

#11 Plaine Joux and Domancy

Plaine Joux is a cross-country ski center high above Sallanches. It’s also a very popular “take-off” spot for parapenters (see photo). Route next finally makes a quick visit to the site and monument of Bernard Hinault’s 1980 World Championship win: Domancy.

Detailed blog post here.