The pre-alpine limestone Massif des Bauges is located between Geneva and Grenoble on the western edge of the Savoy Alps, more precisely between Lac d'Annecy, Lac du Bourget and the Isère valley. Its highest peak is the 2,217 metre high Pointe d'Arcalod. The 18 kilometre long and up to 3.5 kilometre wide Lac du Bourget is the largest natural lake in France and a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. On its eastern shore and at the foot of Mont Revard lies the spa town of Aix-les-Bains with 30,000 inhabitants - the perfect starting point for cyclists to explore the region.
Between Aix-les-Bains and Chambéry, around the southern tip of Lac du Bourget and in the Isère valley, there are easy, flat cycle paths that are very busy in summer and at weekends. In the Massif des Bauges, secluded little roads beckon, some flat, some steep, but always well tarmaced. They whisk cyclists away to picture-book Alpine landscapes: green pastures, dark forests, rugged rock faces, high peaks and deep valleys in which crystal-clear mountain streams gurgle. You will also find the finest mountain pass roads, on which fellow racing cyclists are travelling in droves. Mountain gears or compact cranks are recommended! The absolute highlight for keen "grimpeurs": the shady climb to the Relais du Chat near Le Bourget. 1,264 vertical metres over 13.8 kilometres with an average gradient of 9.2 percent - one of the steepest climbs of its length in the whole of France. The ramp on the west side is even steeper, but shorter.
You can download the GPS data for these tours below:
- Tour 1: Lake tour (57 km, 970 m elevation gain, max. 15 per cent gradient)
- Tour 2: Fier Gorge (107 km, 1,750 m elevation gain, max. 13 per cent gradient)
- Tour 3: Beautiful views (108 km, 2,640 m elevation gain, max. 11 per cent gradient)
- Tour 4: The steep south (131 km, 3,170 m elevation gain, max. 14 per cent gradient)
Downloads:
GPS data: France: Massif des Bauges
