Col de Besseuges

I had always wondered what was up this road, each time I’d reached Col de Saint-Raphaël from Puget-Théniers. I saw from the map that it led to Col de Besseuges, after just over a mile at 10%. So, to claim another col, I decided to investigate.

I left Puget at 2:25 pm, after allowing this mid-October day to warm up a bit. The temperature was in the mid 20°C’s.

I climbed to Col de Saint-Raphaël without stopping, in an attempt to beat my best time up there, after having been surprised not to have done that yesterday. It worked – I beat it by 100 seconds, my previous time being set in Oct 2019, but that was on my Colnago. Today I was on my heavier gravel bike, prepared for a less-than-perfect road surface.

Whereas I could almost forgive the new col sign at Col de Saint-Raphaël yesterday, this ‘BRAVO!’ sign next to it is hideous. I don’t need a sign post telling me “well done”. Enough said.

I had an energy gel there and headed up towards Col de Besseuges. It’s mainly through forest at first, with some very steep sections. Then it opens onto a road that follows the side of the hill, with views to the left over the valleys.

I only stopped once, for a car coming down. Later, the same car came up , and  then down again!

After 17 minutes of riding I reached Col de Besseuges.

I saw that the road beyond the col descended to Besseuges itself, a small cluster of buildings. I very nearly called it quits there, but decided to carry on and see what was down there. The road descended through pasture with more views to the left.

As I was nearing the end of the track, I was thinking that it’s inevitable there’ll be a dog around here somewhere. I approached slowly. Then I could hear sheep in a farm building to my right. Just as I was going past that, two dogs started barking. I could see them about 50 m ahead of me, but I hadn’t noticed the huge patou immediately to my right which quickly came towards me barking loudly as well. They’re quite intimidating. This time I did as you’re advised and I got off my bike and just stood next to it, saying “it’s OK mate” to the dog, who probably wouldn’t understand English anyway. The tactic worked and he stopped barking and just walked back towards the others.

So that was my time to turn around and return to base. I put my arm warmers on for the descent. I took more photos on the way back.

To my right now I could see the Ascros road winding along the valley. That was the road I had taken yesterday to Mont Vial. Even though I couldn’t see it at the time, when I came to look at the photos later I could see Mont Vial clearly when I zoomed in.

So it had been a nice quick little ride to appease my curiosity and add another col to my collection!