Road Cycling: Col de la Croix de Peccata, Mont Mezenc, Massif Central, France - 1,559 m. (5,115 ft)

Thu, 27 October 2022

Technical

Minimum altitude: 828 meters

Distance: 84.1 km

Slope Aspect: West

Vertical Climbed: 1,332 meters (4,370 feet)

Vertical Descended: 1,328 meters

Rating: 3

Description

Description

From Yssingeaux (there is a free autoroute from Lyon - the N88) you climb 400 meters over 16km but there are some sections of 8%. This brings you onto a high plateau and generally rolling roads to les Estables (1300m) after about 35km of cycling. The best choice is to cycle the Col de la Croix de Peccata. The col de la Clède on the main road isn't at the top of the climb and isn't hugely interesting as a destination on this side of the mountain.

There are some charming villages: Mont Vert with its tiny church and la Chaude de Carle (shop and cafe). Once up on the plateau you have a 360 degree view over the Haute-Loire and the "suc" - tiny mountains like Sugar Loafs that are the remnants of extinct volcanoes. You pass by the lac de Saint-Front, at 1250 m, it is the highest lake in the Haute-Loire. It is a flooded volcanic crater with a circumference of 5km.

Les Estables is a small ski resort. The last still running in the Haute-Loire and it offers both alpine skiing on the south side of Mont d'Alambra and cross country. Mont d'Alambra is apparently named after a celtic godess. The characteristic double summit of Mont Mezenc can be reached via the Col de la Croix de Peccata (1559m). This is the highest paved col in the Haute-Loire department and the second highest in the Massif Central. So worth a visit. From les Estables you climb 220m over 3.7km at a reasonable gradient of 6% with some short sections at 8%.

Having climbed over 1000m the return is relatively straightforward with just 300 meters of ascension. Some short steep sections but generally downhill or flat. It takes just over an hour to cover the 35km.

Trip Report
The drive down from Lyon was longer than expected with a lot of speed changes on the highway plus Yssingeaux is not easy to navigate. It was very warm but the ride out to les Essarts was pretty easy, just over 1h30, quite a bit of climbing at the start but generally rolling after 15km in. I was on my old commuter bike but the grades, usually around 6% were manageable. You can see a huge way up on the plateau but it was a bit hazy. Certainly a taste of the Ardeche high plain.

Conditions

Exceptionally warm: 20C at 1400 meters. Tshirt and shorts weather.

Route


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