1/ Just for fun: A list of amazing cycling climbs that include some sort of "special" tunnel experience. (I am a tunnel coward, but occasionally fight my fears and have pedaled through some crazy places)
#cycling #tunnels
2/ Formerly the highest road in France. The route du Parpaillon was built between 1891 and 1911 by the French military to link the Ubaye and Embrun valleys. The high point of the road is the TUNNEL – 520 metres long – at 2643 metres, one metre higher than Galibier.
3/ The amazing Vercors massif is filled with cliff roads and tunnels. The scariest os on the way to Col de Romeyère. A true spider hole. A kind motorcyclists offered to lead me through as I had no light and I hit the highest heart rate of my life from fear and trying to keep up
4/ Galleria dei Saraceni! High altitude Italian military tunnel built in the 1920s due to the endless avalanches making the road impassable. Tunnel closed for a decade and reopened in 2019. WET, scary, dark. Leads to Fort Jafferau at 2805m. Details: cycling-challenge.com/monte-jafferau…
5/ Le Tunnel du Bois Clair, at 1.6 kms in length, claims to be the longest bike-only tunnel in Europe. Part of the superb Bourgogne (Burgundy) network of green-ways (bike-only paths). It is closed in winter to protect a colony of bats (yikes).
6/ Col du Solude: If you have climbed Alpe d’Huez, you may have looked across the valley and seen an amazing little road carved into the cliffs above Bourg d’Oisans on the opposite side of the valley. Fantastic quiet route ... but many scary tunnels! cycling-challenge.com/col-du-solude/
7/ In Switzerland, above UCI headquarters in Aigle is a great climb to Lac de l'Hongrin. It has many tunnels. I made a terrible video there once entitled "Shit, another tunnel" -
8/. Here's a fun one. In the Valais region of Switzerland is a little road up to Derborence. It features a long cliff stretch filled with tunnels. Fun: cycling-challenge.com/derborence/
9/ In northern Piemonte, Italy is the remains of an old military road up to Colle della Rho. Up high, near Piano dei Morti (plains of the dead) is a scary tunnel that felt like it might collapse. Luckily not too long. Worth getting to far side Details: cycling-challenge.com/colle-della-rh…
10/ Above Verbier is the amazing paved climb to Croix du Coeur (2173m). It's possible to go FAR higher on beautiful unpaved roads but 1st you must go through this tunnel. Details:
cycling-challenge.com/above-verbier-…
11/. My favourite tunnel? The amazing road to Col de la Machine via Combe Laval has a VERY SHORT tunnel. I only get scared of heights here. cycling-challenge.com/combe-laval-co…
12/ It's a brilliant 20 km paved climb to the beautiful dam/lac du Mauvoisin in Valais, Switzerland. BUT there is a "secret" series of tunnels that 1st gets you on the dam, then on to a brilliant gravel route beside and beyond the high altitude lake. cycling-challenge.com/lac-de-mauvois…
13/ Galibier tunnel? At 2556m, it's usually forbidden to cyclists, the Tour used it until 1976 but now goes over the col. When col closed occasionally bikes allowed. But CAREFUL as narrow, single lane. Best to try and follow a car. Or better, go over the col even if closed.
14/. Col du Sanetsch is one of the most beautiful big paved climbs in Switzerland - 26 kms uphill to a stunning lake beyond the summit. But very high up is a quite crazy tunnel. cycling-challenge.com/col-du-sanetsc…
15/ Oropa is a medium climb in northern Italy that features sometimes in the Giro. But the paved road continues much higher above the Santuario and crosses through the mountains via an old tunnel on a lovely route. I had to hike over snow to exit the tunnel when I visited.
16/ I love hairpins. And Passo Falzarego in the Dolomites has signed hairpin #14 inside a tunnel.
17/. Some more scenic tunnels? the west side of the Susten pass in central Switzerland is full of scenic tunnels.
18/ The best tunnel road sign I've ever seen? In the Chartreuse Alps: some VERY scary tunnels! :-)
19/ I often say the Vercors massif in France is the most underrated region for cycling in/near the Alps. here's a 5 col, 2 gorges route filled with natural tunnels and cliff roads: cycling-challenge.com/vercors-five-c…
20/ Another tunnel at the summit of a col: Col de Rousset is hairpin heaven, I avoided it for a while as scared of the summit tunnel but here's a 10 col loop that is fantastic .... and I used the tiny side walk when the lone car passed me. :-) Details: cycling-challenge.com/col-de-rousset…
21/ Once in June I cycled Kühtai Sattel and above to Speicher Finstertal ( a dam/lake in Austria). But there was so much snow I can't tell you about the tunnel. I hiked above it and managed to reach the lake.
22/ Monte Grappa is one of the more amazing places in the Alps for cycling. At least 9 superb paved routes up, and WW1 history everywhere. Several tunnels along the way .... and a Tunnel museum at the summit (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele). cycling-challenge.com/monte-grappa-b…
23/ How to avoid tunnels? Often modern tunnels have replaced old cliff roads. Sometimes the old cliff roads are still passable: Col de la Ramaz has a nasty dark modern tunnel near its summit. 1st photo is leading into tunnel. But old cliff road is rough but usable & car free!
24/ Yesterday I was chatting about the horrible modern tunnel near summit of the epic Passo di Gavia. Long, dark, fast cars. But the old cliff road is still usable and fine with road bike if going up (rough descending).
25/ As usual, I have gone on too long. Sorry, I will stop. Just remember, in these challenging times .... there is light at the end of the tunnel.
//end
26/ I should have mentioned that the photo of the crazy tunnel in the first tweet was taken above a very challenging high Swiss Alps unpaved climb to Gemmipass towards Wildstrubel glacier. Slightly silly tunnel on a truly beautiful ride.
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