Great Cycling Climbs: The French Alps

Presents over 80 of the finest cycling climbs through the French Alps, offering key route guides, statistics, maps, tips and stories for those looking to plan their next adventure

The Alps are a place of legend for cyclists, road-racers and enthusiasts alike. Home to one of the most challenging sections of the Tour de France, the mountains offer some of Europe’s most gruelling yet glorious cycling climbs through Geneva, Chamonix, Annecy, Chambéry, Grenoble, Le Bourg-d’Oisans and Barcelonnette.

In this comprehensive guide, teacher, passionate cycling enthusiast and author of one of the most renowned books on the Tour de France and L’Alpe d’Huez, Graeme Fife presents the greatest mountain routes of the Alps. Fife’s lively writing style, full of anecdotes and humorous asides, captures the beauty and intrigue of the mountains, as well as key moments in cycle-racing history. A selection of photography of the routes and stunning scenery follows each chapter and hand-drawn maps document some of the most famous – and most challenging – climbs, both well- and lesser-known, including Chablais Massif, Grand Saint-Bernard, Col de la Colombière, Mont du Chat and Col du Mont Noir.

Whether planning a weekend micro-adventure or an epic cycling escape, this beautifully illustrated guide is essential reading for cyclists of all stripes.

Contents List

Introduction • Geneva • Chamonix • Annecy • Chambery • Grenoble • Le Bourg d’Oisans Barcelonnette

About the Author

Previously a lecturer in Latin and Greek literature at the University of Reading, Graeme Fife is a writer and broadcaster who has written for BBC Radio and the World Service, as well as for magazines and national newspapers. He is the author of eight books, including Tour de France: The History, the Legend, the Riders.