Croix de Toulouse

This will be quite a short blog post for quite a short ride.

Overlooking Briançon from a height of almost 2000m stands La Croix de Toulouse, offering astounding views over the city and its fortifications situated on the surrounding hills. To get there by bike entails climbing a steep road which starts a couple of miles north of the centre of Briançon. Almost thirty lacets (switchbacks) enable the road to scale the hillside at an average gradient of 10% for four miles, the last section of which is gravel/rock.

I started this ride quite late, at 2pm, in the hope that the day might have warmed up a bit by then. It was still only 11°C when I started so I wore 3/4 shorts, long-sleeved base layer, arm warmers, wooly socks, snood, cap, mitts and rain jacket.

I was cold before starting the ride so I took ages to warm up. Through the city centre I climbed the very steep Avenue de la République, 11%. That helped to get he blood flowing!

Twenty minutes later I had reached the foot of the climb to Croix de Toulouse, where I stopped to take off my rain jacket and have half a banana. Once past a few bends with buildings around, the road just goes up the wooded hillside. Each bend is numbered but I didn't count them. The gradient is relentless. Average of over 10% but it varies quite a bit - plenty of sections much steeper. It never lets up. Maybe there are stretches of 8% which are welcome relief.

I only got two photos on the way up. There were spectacular views along the Guisane valley,  NW towards La Salle-les-Alpes, and south back towards Briançon.

I only saw 5 or 6 cars during the hour of climbing. I saw 3 MTBs coming down - I think they were electric. All I saw on the Wahoo were the switchbacks filling the screen. Eventually you come to some buildings. I knew that I had to go further than that, and that's where the "gravel" begins. The road is in a terrible condition with deep ruts and rocks all over. Kudos to anyone who drives a car up that! I was quite pleased at being able to keep going by looking ahead and plotting the best course between big rocks, around gullys and over ruts . I stopped a couple of times at parts that were unrideable. I passed a couple of walkers and said 'bonjour' - they said 'well done'. As I rode away from them I heard one say something to the other including the phrase "velo route", meaning road bike. They must have wondered why I was not on a mountain bike. (Maybe they had said "what is that idiot doing on a road bike!?")

I stopped on the last switchback which was in a very bad state, but I couldn't get going again (wheelspin) despite trying 8 or 9 times. I walked about 20 yards to where the gradient eased and got going again to the top. There is a clearing and a mobile phone mast. There was also a vehicle up there - like a car-camper type thing. I had a look around the front of the mast and got some photos of the amazing view. Then I saw you could walk down slightly east. I could see the road to Montgenèvre and had an amazing view of the forts.

I got some photos and left soon after. I saw  a mountainbiker coming up the gravel bit, and then an electric MTB. Descending the gravel section I was surprised at how long it was - it made me realise what I had achieved by climbing it. I took it very easy. My brakes were on the whole way down. Stopping for photos gave my hands a rest.

Got loads of photos on way down

Googling it after I got back from the ride, it looks like I didn't visit the actual Croix de Toulouse - that was up a narrow path (it vaguely rings a bell) so that's bloody annoying! In fact I had gone higher, so from a cycling challenge point of view I had done even more than was necessary. I'm still a bit annoyed that I missed it though. Should have done more research beforehand!

From the start of the climb until Croix de Toulouse (not the aerial) there's 2,040 ft of ascent over 3.8 miles (10%). If it were not for the gravel bit at the top, I 'might' consider doing it again sometime to see the actual Croix de Toulouse, but I doubt it.

I got back with cold hands - should have worn gloves, not mits.

Another amazing ride from Briançon. Astounding views are the reward for taking on this tough climb.

[I've had to temporarily host this short video on YouTube because my normal provider has a problem at the moment, so please excuse any unrelated content that may be shown]

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