Cycling around Grenoble

Hidden Gems on the Bike

There are a few small climbs close to the city that are perfect if time is short, or for preparation for the big climbs.

One of the great things about cycling around Grenoble is that it is so easy to leave the city behind and find yourself on quiet roads. The following list of climbs are my favourites and if time is short or you want an easier day, then explore and enjoy some great mountain views while escaping the heat of the city.

1 - Fort de la Bastille - Ask anybody in Grenoble about the climb to the Bastille, and watch their reaction. The road is just less than two kilometres in length, but the average gradient is 17% with stretches of 24% and it soon starts to burn the legs. How do I know this, because some kind soul has written the percentages on the road. The climb was used as the prologue stage in the Dauphine Libere in 2000 and there is also a hillclimb every September. Follow signs for La Bastille from La Tronche.

2 - Mont St Martin - The baby brother to Alpe d'Huez. A quiet road ending in a small village, five kilometres in length, five hundred metres of vertical climb with 17 hairpins taking you into a hidden Chartreuse valley. Take the bike path towards Lyon, till the barrage near St Egreve and then join the main road towards Voreppe before turning off to take you to the bottom of the climb at Fontanil.

3 - Col de la Clemenciere - At just over 600 metres, this Col makes a great way to introduce your legs to climbing and the nicest way to get into the Chartreuse from the city. There are two options for climbing to Col, one from St-Martin-le-Vinoux, and the second longer option from St Egreve passing through Quaix-en-Chartreuse. You also have the option to continue to either the 780 metre Col du Vence and the 1340 metre Col de Porte.

Climbing to Quaix-en-Chartreuse from St Egreve on the way to the Col de Clemencieres.

Decending into St-Martin-le-Vinoux and Grenoble from the Col.

4 - Montaud - A small seven kilometre climb in the north-west of the Vercors that gives lovely views of the countryside. Take the bike path to the end in the Lyon direction, and then turn left for a kilometre before heading straight across at the traffic lights to begin the climb. At the top, turn left and descend to Veurey where you can rejoin the bike path.

5 - Venon - Situated on the left-hand side of the climb from the city to Uriage. The climb starts just outside Gieres and hairpins up above the city, passing through the village of Venon to reach the top of the climb eight kilometres later. The gradient averages around six percent and you'll arrive on the Balcon de Belledonne above St Martin d'Uriage.

The Chartreuse can be seen across the valley when climbing through the village of Venon.

6 - Murianette - A remarkably quiet road that is just a few kilometres further along the valley from Venon. The climbs starts in the village of Murianette - two kilometres outside Gieres and on the road to Domene - climbing under the cover of the trees until the Alpine peaks of the Belledonne show themselves in the final three kilometres. At the Col, turn left for the last 800 metres of climbing to Pinay, where you will then have the choice to turn left along the Balcon du Belledonne, or right to descend to Uriage les Bains.

The 2300 metre Grand Colon and wooded mountainsides of the Belledonne when climbing above Murianette.

7 - Quatre Seigneurs - Located on the right-hand side of the climb from Grenoble to Uriage, this 11 kilometre climb climbs around 700 vertical metres to the Fort. The last kilometre is a one way road and unfortunately there are no views from the top. But, there are great views of the city as well as Vercors on the climb. I prefer to climb from Gieres and descend through the village of Herbeys and descend back to Eybens, avoiding the descent under the trees.

Five kilometres climbed and already leaving the city behind.

Climbing above Grenoble with four kilometres of climbing left.

The cliffs of the Vercors dominate the skyline while climbing to the Fort.

Descending below Herbeys with the Alps on the skyline.

8 - Belmont - The first kilometres of the climb to Chamrousse will take you through Belmont, with the option to then descend down to Villenaveys or to turn left in the village and ride along to St Martin d'Uriage.

Climbing above Belmont with the 2000m Chartreuse peak of Chamchaude in the background.

A big thank you to all my friends for putting up with my camera antics on the lunchtime rides.