Travel through the Vercors (climbing week)

Last update: 2-Aug-2023 10:12

Today, you move from one night address (Pont-en-Royans) to another (Die). The route leaves the Vercors Natural Park in the west and heads south through a hilly area on the edge of the Rhone Valley. In Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans you pass in front of an aqueduct. And then the next climb looms with about 700 meters of elevation: the Col de Tourniol, which takes you to the south of the Vercors. A short descent takes you to Léoncel Abbey. After that, you stay informed and via the Col de Bacchus, you finally descend into the south of the Vercors. Characteristic of the south of the Vercors is the drier landscape (and therefore also other flora) than the middle / northern part and you pedal on roads where there is practically no shade. You climb to the Col de la Croix, and after a descent you arrive at the Col de Marignac. Then it is about 9 km from the Drôme valley, in which the historic town of Die is located and where you spend the night at the Hotel des Alpes (note: the center of Die is closed to cars at certain times of the day, following cars must take this into account).

Tip: the route includes a round trip (2x 8 km) that you really shouldn't skip: you pedal in the valley of the river Gervanne, where you pedal through a beautiful secluded gorge (Gorges de l'Omblèze) and the road ends at the end at the town of Omblèze (although the route does not lead to the dead end). In the gorge, you also pass two waterfalls: the Pissoire waterfall and the Chatelat waterfall . The way back on this part is a little climbing (110 meters of elevation).

Warning: the altimeters indicated by route are too high because of the gorges and rocky terrain on the road! A realistic estimate of the number of altimeters is 2100 hm.