Fri, 19 September 2025
Minimum altitude: 745 meters
Distance: 87.7 km
Slope Aspect: Various
Vertical Climbed: 2,684 meters (8,806 feet)
Vertical Descended: 2,670 meters
Rating: 5
I wanted to do the Cormet d'Arêches again, but this time to complete the circuit with the Cormet de Roselend. Last time, I didn't do the second pass. It was going to be difficult. I hadn't done that much elevation gain since Covid. I had to ride according to the numbers, as the pros say. My current VAM is 800, so I decided to ride at about 500 m/h for the first climb, somewhere at the top of my zone 2 heart rate. I would stop for a snack in Bourg St Maurice, then tackle the Roselend and, if I had time, the Col du Pré.
Well, the Pré wasn't going to be on the agenda, because 5 km from the summit of the Cormet de Roselend, I was exhausted. It was 93°F, and only a break to drink water and take a salt tablet allowed me to reach the pass in good enough shape to tackle the descent directly to Beaufortain.
The ride is a real challenge and the afternoon heat in the second half of September was a surprise. It's been quite a good summer campaign for me with the Maurienne back route and Tougnette ticked off after some good rides in Italy in August.
The 6 km long gravel section on the Col d'Arêches requires caution on a road bike, but isn't too steep. The Cormet de Roselend was black with motorcyclists riding at full speed, taking malicious pleasure in passing as close as possible to the cyclists. 33C on the Cormet de Roselend at 2000m.
