Climb to Iseran (Tarentaise side)
Departure point: Val d'Isère
Getting there: A430 then N 90
Altitude: 2770 m
Km: 15 or 36 or 48 km
Elevation gain: 900 or 1700 or 1930 m
Numerous cyclists (tourists and Tour de France competitors), have crossed the Val d’Isère to tackle the last 17 kilometres of the Iseran pass on its Tarentaise side. The first climbs of this route have served as the setting for two stages of major events which curiously were both marked by the talent of Russian competitors. Indeed, at the 17th Tour de l’Avenir, on 13th September 1979, the Soviet Youri Kachirine won the 9th stage (Aix-les-Bains-Val d’Isère) of a race won by his compatriot Sergueï Soukhroutchenkov. Seventeen years later, these same climbs formed the highlight of the 8th stage of the 1996 Tour de France. From Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Val d’Isère, the timed climb was dominated by the Russian Evgueni Berzin, wearer of the yellow jersey since his arrival at Les Arcs the day before. He covered the 30.5 km in 53’53”, beating the Dane Bjarne Riis, the future winner of the 83rd Tour, by 35”. After this exploit at Val d’Isère, never again did the prodigy from Vyborg, win another major race!
Around 10th July, during the “Iserane” cycling competition, the ascent of the pass is reserved for climbers who can enjoy the peaceful landscape without cars while attempting to conquer the summit of France’s highest paved pass.
Can also be timed from Bourg-Saint-Maurice (48 km) and Saint-Foy-Tarentaise (36 km).
Getting there: A430 then N 90
Altitude: 2770 m
Km: 15 or 36 or 48 km
Elevation gain: 900 or 1700 or 1930 m
Numerous cyclists (tourists and Tour de France competitors), have crossed the Val d’Isère to tackle the last 17 kilometres of the Iseran pass on its Tarentaise side. The first climbs of this route have served as the setting for two stages of major events which curiously were both marked by the talent of Russian competitors. Indeed, at the 17th Tour de l’Avenir, on 13th September 1979, the Soviet Youri Kachirine won the 9th stage (Aix-les-Bains-Val d’Isère) of a race won by his compatriot Sergueï Soukhroutchenkov. Seventeen years later, these same climbs formed the highlight of the 8th stage of the 1996 Tour de France. From Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Val d’Isère, the timed climb was dominated by the Russian Evgueni Berzin, wearer of the yellow jersey since his arrival at Les Arcs the day before. He covered the 30.5 km in 53’53”, beating the Dane Bjarne Riis, the future winner of the 83rd Tour, by 35”. After this exploit at Val d’Isère, never again did the prodigy from Vyborg, win another major race!
Around 10th July, during the “Iserane” cycling competition, the ascent of the pass is reserved for climbers who can enjoy the peaceful landscape without cars while attempting to conquer the summit of France’s highest paved pass.
Can also be timed from Bourg-Saint-Maurice (48 km) and Saint-Foy-Tarentaise (36 km).
