Mon, 5 May 2014
Vertical Climbed: 1,524 meters (5,000 feet)
Vertical Descended: 1,524 meters
Rating: 3
The climb to St Jean le Vieux starts in Domene. It is a 500 meter climb at and average 9% over 5.8km with a few ramps and flats en-route. At about 3.5km there is a flat section before the road ramps up again through St Jean le Vieux. After a couple of hairpins there is a choice of climbing through the village and past the picturesque church (North road) or via the hamlet of le Buisson (South road). Logically the choice probably depends on whether you are heading to the north or south. Because of the flat section of around 700 meters the climbs and ramps are actually tougher than one would think. An average rider will be happy with 34 or 36x28 gearing.
Trip Report
I climbed to the balcony road in 32 minutes but there is then a small col to the south before dropping down to Mas Julien. Here I took the D280J to climb the Combe de Lancey to the end of the surfaced road at 1135 meters (it is possible to gravel trail round to Col du Pre du Mollard) but I descended back to Villard Bonnot.