Cormet de Roselend via Col du Pré - Cycling Inspiration & Education
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- Опубликовано: 29 авг 2024
- The centre feature of Stage 11 of the 2018 Tour de France from Albertville to La Rosière, the Cormet de Roselend has been the scene of much drama over the years (more on that later), however it’s surprising that it has taken until this year for the race to visit the Col du Pré. Naturally if there’s a chance to bag an extra col or two then we’re never going to let that opportunity pass us by!
From the beautiful alpine village of Beaufort in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alps you've got two choices when tackling the Cormet de Roselend. Head straight out of town on the D925 and you'll pick up the main road for the traditional climb but, should you take the unassuming D218A in the direction of Arêches then you also have the opportunity to bag the hidden gem of the Col du Pré.
If you're a dairy lover then you're definitely in the right place. Beaufort is famous for its locally produced cheese, although you may want to refrain from this until after the ride as the Roselend in this direction is a long one, 25 kilometres from start to summit.
If it's a piping hot day then the shelter from the trees is often welcomed on the main road, the lesser known climb of the Pré is very different in character, winding its way through meadows and past wooden chalets while those famous cows peacefully graze away all day long. To think that the Pré is the easy option would be an oversight, taking this route actually adds 5 kilometres to the climb with only a moment or two to recover from its steep pitches, often at or beyond 10%.
It's as you crest the Pré's summit at 1,748m elevation that it becomes clear as to exactly why you've decided to suffer the extra 5 kilometres. With snowcapped views of the Mont Blanc Massif, the turquoise water of Lac de Roselend is nothing short of mesmerising. Take a second to recover and absorb the moment as you descend towards the Barrage de Roselend.
Constructed in the 1950's the primary purpose of the barrage is to produce hydroelectric power. At 804m in length and with a height of 150m, the dam stores up to 187 million cubic metres of water, making it a truly intriguing and impressive feat of mountain engineering.
Climbing back to the main road we actually bag the 1,605m Col du Méraillet too (#bonus) although aside from the sign you'd be hard pressed to realise that you've added another col to your collection. Tracing your way along the shore of Lac de Roselend this is your last chance to recover before the final 5.7 kilometres to the summit of the Roselend. As water tumbles down from alpine waterfalls, on a fine summer's day there are few places in the world so idyllic.
Although Mother Nature can be fickle at times! First used in the 1979 Tour de France the Roselend has witnessed much drama over the years, none more so than in 1996 when treacherous conditions saw race leader Stéphane Heulot abandon in tears just 2 kilometres from the summit, Belgian Johan Bruyneel overshoot a tight left-hand bend on the descent (disappearing into a ravine to the gasps of all watching) before the whole world witnessed the seemingly unstoppable Miguel Indurain crack on the final climb to Les Arcs, bringing Big Mig's dominant rein in the Tour to a dramatic end.
Fortunately today the weather was on our side and we were able to appreciate the true beauty of the Col du Pré and Cormet de Roselend. I hope one day you have the opportunity to explore them for yourself and can feel the true magic that both bring. The legend of the Roselend lives on!
Start: Beaufort
Length: 25km
Summit: 1,968m
Elevation gain: 1,188m
Average gradient: 5.6%
Max gradient: 12.7%
Ridden in July
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Stay well, ride safe and thank you for watching.
Mike Cotty
The Col Collective
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Can't get enough of this channel!!
I literally teared up when I came around a bend and got my first view of the Barrage de Roseland. Thank you for letting me re-live one of the best days cycling I've ever had. Congrats to all on a beautifully produced video.
Dammit! Stop producing so many great videos! My bucket list is overflowing!
Watched this like 8 times already.
Same with all your vids!!! Every vid is mesmerizing.
One time I had to buy a popcorn 🍿 watched 7 vids in a row. Kudos mike and team!!
The french passes are by fa the best.
1) Tour de France feeling.
2) almost no motorcycles
3) awesome landscape
4) great weather
5) challenging.
6) very careful car-drivers (opposite of Italy)
I have ridden the Roselend twice and as anyone watching this video can see it is a must-do for any cyclist. Some wag had spraypainted "Johan was here" on the barrier where Bruyneel went over the side. The Col du Pre was new to me and looks wonderful and is going on my list. Thanks, Mike! Another great video production and more beautiful cows too.
So good I am watching it again..
I made La Route des Grandes Alpes in June/July 2019 and thanks to this video I took this alternative route via the Col du Pré to get to the Cormet de Roselend. The Col du Pré is a hard nut to crack because of its steepness, but it's a beautiful climb in a quiet environment. And the final 8km up to the summit of the Cormet de Roselend are just mindblowing. Thanks a lot for your great videos and for the passion demonstrated in them!
Superb. Again.
Thank you Mike and team for such beautiful films; each new one is better than the last!
Waiting for spring...
One of my favorite routes. A true hidden gem. Now with you and the Tour coming through this year I'm afraid it won't be hidden any longer.
Thanks so much for the Col du Pre route! Stunning views. And for the advice "ride it, don't grind it." Also, how about a behind the ride video of your fantastic film crew at work! They have an eye for the beautiful in the world!
Great video Mike! Even more special to see other cyclists on this ride!!!
I'm gonna ride this exact route in August, start in Albertville....quality video once again!!
Another great video! I admire how long you can climb out of the saddle. I’m new to cycling and can’t climb that far standing. Yet.
I am socked and embarrassed that I'm just now finding this channel. Great content!
Awesome video! brought back amazing memories for me. I did this same route back in September 2016 as part of the Rendonnée des Alps. This route was part of Day 2 which started in Megève and ended in Val d'Isère. We first did the Col Des Saisies then descended towards Beaufort where we followed same route in the video up to Cormet to Roselend then descended back towards Bourg Saint-Maurice. I still remember the route like the back of my hand as I was more interested in absorbing the beautiful alpine scenery.
Would go back and do it again at any time
one day you will win the ''out of saddle rider of the year'' prize :D
roberto paludi here’s hoping! 😜
We shall award him .
Another great video, and another ride for my cols list :) By the way, I can't get over the scenery at 5:45: incredible!
This year in September, I'm riding the Pyrenees only, but next year it's probably the Alps, and Cormet de Roselend sounds like a nice ride to include in the list.
That brought back some great memories of doing that climb. Cheers!
What a wonderful Video. I saw all your Video. I hope that in the future you will shot others . Maybe between Liguria and south Piemonte. We have got many hills to climb. Greetings!!!
Best of the best - as always! Thank you for making such great vids! Greetigs from Germany!
That water looks amazing!
Destroyed my day Mike ... You make it look so easy .... cheers mate
Yannis Kouretas #pokerface
How beautiful!!.. 🙏🙏🙏💐🌺💕💖
Did this climb last summer, its really hard in the beginning, but the views are worth it. Also nice to take the normal climb as the descent after you've finished the col du pré
Hello,
Since the time I watch your videos, I still wanted to tell you that on your bike there is a ... saddle! If, and it is done so that you put your butt once in a while. I assure you, it's useful for that!
However, you do as you want and congratulations for the shots. As the French say: Chapeau!
Wow! Another gem 💎
Wow! 😍 Bonitas subidas y gran paisaje.. Saludos desde Colombia. Quiero rodar en mi bicicleta en esos lugares increíbles.
What a fantastic video
Fantástico! video muy bonito 👍👍
I wasn't aware at the beginning of the video about this climb being the one that Indurain cracked on 96', it took me right back to watching it all unfold on Channel 4 when I had just left school. Would love to ride it. Cheers Mike.
james butler TDF on channel 4 was legendary! Definitely played a big part in hooking me into the sport early!
Hope to ride it in 2 weeks if the weather is kind :) Great Vlog
Your videos are just unveliebable...
Amazing!
We need the Col Collective OST!!!
As ever, epic
Which time of the year was this - once again excellent - video shot? Temperature at the top of the climb?
We shot this in July. Temperature at the top of the climbs was pretty good, around 15°.
Beautiful as always, but I have one question: You're a climbing specialist and pass a lot of other cyclists on your climbs, but have you ever been passed yourself?
John Day Hi John, definitely have! In more recent times it’s the eBikes that are a big challenge to keep up with!
Mike Cotty Sorry, but I know E-bikes have their place in the cycling world, but I wouldn't count those against you. I got passed on some rolling hills by two slightly over weight guys on a set of E-bikes. I just had to laugh and just let them go because they must have had the settings at max output doing at least 20+ mph. I was working my butt off just to maintain 17-18.
excellent
WOW!!!
Is that the same route that will be taken on stage 20 of the 2019 TdF? I think TdF doesn't include col de pre
I have to drive to Switzerland in the summer and was wondering where to stop off for a bit of col collecting, it'll be before Le Tour, so it looks like it will be Cormet de Roseland, looks a bit brutal though.
It's awesome in every way!
How did you develop so much strength when you spin a lot?
I've always found that I can produce more power with a higher cadence, perhaps from my early days racing mountain bikes. Thanks for watching. Ride safe, Mike
Great video! does anyone know the name of the second track playing on the vid?
I would like to know as well :-) did you receive any answer?
Awesome ride. Great video. But your choice of jersey and bib colours do my head in. At least the helmet, socks and shoes are matching.
Elmer Maniebo It’s not a combo you’ll see too often.
Mike Cotty that looks like a 56-39 on the front and a 11-25 at the Back?
looks perfectly fine...
noch21Gramm 👍🏻
It’ll probably takes me three times longer to climb that col.
PLEASE make the video's TRUE 21:9 please, than we can watch it in full screen on our UWHD screens! Not that much harder as u now have to add borders on your 21:9 video, so less work and better for us!
What happened to the disc-bike ?
lee a dorney Hi Lee, I filmed this video a long time ago (we’re working through a huge library of footage) so I don’t think a disc bike even existed! Seriously.
Did it from the other side in 2015
I was shitting myself on this climb
What is your ftp?
Music in 1:10 ?
Les vaches Tarine et Abondance avec le lait desquelles on fait le Beaufort. Hummmmmmm...
05:34 "CRAPPY 105"!?