Minimum altitude: 213 meters
Distance: 35 km
Slope Aspect: North-West
Vertical Climbed: 781 meters (2,562 feet)
Vertical Descended: 776 meters
Rating: 3
Today’s objective was the old anthracite mine workings above Saint-Mury-Monteymond, reached via Lancey and the steep roads climbing into the lower slopes of Belledonne.
I started at around 9.30 am, which was already a little late given the heat, but the route choice made sense. Climbing from Lancey meant that most of the ascent was on shaded roads, tucked into the combe and largely protected from the worst of the sun by trees and terrain. It was about 28°C at the base of the climb, but by the time I reached Saint-Mury it had dropped to around 24°C, which made a noticeable difference.
The climb itself is a reminder of how industrial this quiet corner of Belledonne once was. The anthracite mines at Saint-Mury-Monteymond were developed to supply the Papeteries de Lancey, which needed fuel for their industrial site in the valley. The concession was granted in the 1920s, and the mine continued to be worked until the early 1960s. It is a slightly strange thought now, riding up these small, wooded roads, that this hillside once formed part of the energy supply for one of the major paper-making sites of the Grésivaudan.
The road up from Lancey is steady at first, but the difficulty ramps up once you turn towards the lower mine workings on the Chemin des Cascades. This section was much harder than I had imagined. Unlike the shaded climb lower down, the road here was catching the sun, with very little shelter, and the gradient kicked up sharply in places. Some ramps felt close to 17%, which is enough to turn a short detour into a proper effort.
I had fitted my cadence meter for the ride, and it showed around 65 rpm for much of the climb. That felt about right: not quite grinding, but definitely climbing under load. Near the top there was also a lot of forestry work going on, with tree felling leaving plenty of debris across the road. It made the final section feel a bit rougher and more awkward than expected.
I had vaguely imagined continuing higher after visiting the mine area, but the road above quickly puts an end to that kind of optimism. It rears up like a wall and is unpaved gravel, and in the heat it did not feel like the day to keep forcing the issue. The mine workings had been the real target, so I was happy enough to call that the high point of the ride.
The descent was via Sainte-Agnès, and it was much more enjoyable than the climb had been painful. The road was cool, shaded in places, and fast enough to be fun without feeling too wild. I averaged around 47 km/h on the way down, which made for a very satisfying finish after the steep ramps above Saint-Mury.
In the end it was a short but quite concentrated ride: under 35 km, but with more than 770 m of climbing, a bit of industrial history, some unexpectedly steep gradients, and a fast descent back towards the valley.
24-30C in the morning.
