September 1, 2023 Gravel biking is booming. So much so, in fact, that it’s not just a hype anymore: gravel has developed solid roots and will continue to grow. Why? There are many reasons, and we all have our own. For me, it’s : the chance to ride away from the ever-growing motorized traffic. I say this without animosity, because …
Gravel bikepacking in Valais
August 27, 2023 Over the last few years, I’ve been exploring Valais on my gravel bike. This region of Switzerland is already known for its great road passes and mountain bike trails. As it turns out, it also lends itself very well to gravel biking: the Valais is criss-crossed by a dense network of 4×4 roads at the foot of …
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Graubünden gravel & road tour
→ 190km↑ 5670m♦ difficultStart: SplügenFinish: IlanzCountry: SwitzerlandCLIMBS: Lai da Vons (1991m), Maigelshütte (2314m), Alp Nova (2079m)A 3 day tour on quiet roads and gravel tracks in eastern SwitzerlandLocated in eastern Switzerland, the canton of Graubünden is home to some of the most beautiful road cycling passes in the Alps such as the Albula or the Umbrail. It is also a …
Passo delle Erbe
→ 96km↑ 2400m♦ DifficultStart/Finish: SAN MARTINO IN BADIACountry: ITALYRoute: Loop CLIMB: PASSO DELLE ERBE (1987M)A hidden gem in the DolomitesThe Dolomites are one of the most popular destinations for road cyclists. And for good reasons: its landscapes studded with towering peaks are breathtaking, and some of the most prestigious pages in the history of the Giro d’Italia have been written on …
Croix de Coeur and Col du Lein
→ 71km↑ 2580m♦ DifficultStart/Finish: le châbleCountry: SwitzerlandRoute: Loop CLIMBS: CROIX DE COEUR (2174m) COL DU LEIN (1685m)A loop that punches above its weightIn 2023, the Giro d’Italia riders discovered a new pass on their way to Crans-Montana: the Col de la Croix de Coeur. Located above the well known resort of …
Zeinisjoch and Silvretta Hochalpenstrassse
→ 36km↑ 1130m♦ mediumStart/Finish: GaltürCountry: AustriaRoute: Loop CLIMBS: Zeinisjoch (1842m) Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse (2032m)A big Alpine pass and a hidden gemAn Alpine country par excellence, Austria remains little known among cyclists. However, it is full of big passes and roads away from traffic in sumptuous landscapes. Take, for example, this short but …
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Furka-Nufenen-Gotthard (Tremola): The classic passes of central Switzerland
→ 106km↑ 3020m♦ difficultStart/Finish: AndermattCountry: SwitzerlandRoute: Loop CLIMBS: Furkapass (2429m) Nufenenpass (2478m) Gotthardpass (2106m)An unforgettable loop filled with switchbacks, glacier views and a cobbled pass between the Italian and German speaking parts of SwitzerlandWith three legendary passes that regularly feature on …
The Strade Bianche
→ 122km↑ 1950m♦ mediumStart/Finish: PienzaCountry: ItalyCLIMBS: Monte Sante Marie (304m) Murlo (293m) Pieve a Salti (309m)Route: LoopA loop in the Crete Senesi and the Val d’Orcia on the strade bianche, the typical white gravel roads of Tuscany featured in L’EroicaFor …
Martigny: Emosson and the Petite Forclaz
→ 73km↑ 2919m♦ difficultStart/Finish: MartignyCountry: SwitzerlandCLIMBS: Col de la Forclaz (1527m) Emosson dam (1960m) Vieux Emosson dam (2125m)Route: Out and backA scenic ride on the roads of the Tour de FranceThe Martigny region in Valais, Switzerland has become a go-to …
Entlebuch: Glaubenberg & Glaubenbielen Passes
→ 119km↑ 2990m♦ DifficultStart/Finish: WolhusenCountry: SwitzerlandCLIMBS: Glaubenberg Pass (1540m) Glaubenbielen Pass (1616m)Route: Loop ( counter clockwise)This loop in the Prealps of Central Switzerland takes you over two of Entlebuch’s underrated passesStarting from Wolhusen, you follow the Kleine Emme upstream to Entlebuch, gateway to the eponymous UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ascent of …
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