Cormet de Roselend

The Cormet (meaning Col in Savoyard) is probably the most beautiful climb in the area. Cancelled from the tour de 2019 the Cormet de Roselend is stunning in the Beaufortain.

It is on the Route des Grande Alpes an itinerary linking Thonon les Bains to Nice 720 km 26 mountain pass.

The link between the Beaufortin and the . This nearly 2000m is not a light weight climb. You will have a fantastic view of the lac of Roselend on a sunny day the lac look turquoise.

Distance 67 km Altitude Max 1974m

Length of the 18.5 km + 5.3 km % Max 9% Climb Moyenne 5.9% 1 st Jusqu’au col GPS Col and Back

Col de Meraillet 99km 6.5% 1605 m 8.5% max

GPS via col de https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30766152 Meraillet Beaufort via Col 99km 9% 1703 m 11.5% max du Pré GPS via Col du https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32513273 Pré

Overview Lots of variant for this climb direct to the col and back, to the lac and back, to beaufort and back by Col de Méraillet or the Royal route back via Col du Pré. Cormet de Roselend

Tour de France 11 times The Cormet de Roselend is category 1 except in 2018 it was preceded by the Col du Pré and was classified category 2.

• 1979 : Netherlands • 1984 : Francis Castaing France • 1987 : Netherlands • 1992 : Italy • 1995 : Alex Zülle Switzerland • 1996 : Udo Bölts Germany • 2002 : Mario Aerts Belgium • 2005 : Laurent Brochard France • 2007 : Michael Rasmussen Denmark • 2009 : Franco Pellizotti Italy • 2018 : France

The detailed route

You are leaving Bourg Saint Maurice in the Direction of the Cormet after a few kilometres you will pass a little hamlet called le Châtelard with a great view on Bourg this will be quickly followed by a long incline at 2% along the torrent Versoyen. After a little town called Bonneval les Bains a passage at 8 % for a little under 2 km brings a different spirit to the climb. This is quickly followed by 9 beautiful hairpins at 8% up the an opening to the extraordinary Valley des Chapieux here you can see the Aiguille des Galciers (3816 m the highest summit in the Bourg Saint Maurice district. It looks like the year could be 1930. You will have 6 km left to climb, the last 3 km are a straight line that you will absolutely love on the way down.

From the top you have 4 solutions:

1 Back down if you are desperate for a Maison Caramel cake. 2 Down to the Lac 5.3 km at 7 % but a lovely restaurant bar on the side of the lac will provide refreshments Cormet de Roselend

3 Down to Beaufort via Col de Méraillet. 4 A little Climb up Col du Pré 3.2 km at 5%

Solutions 1 and 2 speak for themselves.

Solutions 3 and 4

Back up Col de Meraillet 12 km of a large forest route takes you up to the Col with a few laces at 7.5/8.0 % nothing to complex

Back via Col du Pré (the hard way) This is not the same once you pass the town of Arêches (Famous for its ski alpinism race la Pierra Menta). The rough part is about to start 15 hairpins between 8 and 10 % for a little over 7 kms the last 3 kms are never bellow 10%. a little suprise when you think this is over you still have 300 m at 8% and a last sprint of 500m for the sign. you will have a spectacular view of the Lac for reward. A Little restaurant at the top of col du pré is waiting for you to take a coffee and climb the last 6 km to return to Tarentaise.

Bear in mind that in both cases you will still have the 5.3 kms at 7% to the Cormet.

Things to remember

• Altitude - this climb is below 2000m but the extra loop will take you in the 3000m climb. • Lights - No needs for that ride. • Weather - can change so be prepared and check the forecast, take a rain jacket or at least a wind jacket if there is any doubt. • Descent - you must take warm clothes for the descent, it will be 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Landry up on the mountain and a fast descent will be very dangerous without the right equipment.

Cormet de Roselend

Cormet de Roselend

Cormet de Roselend

Col de Méraillet