Crossing the Alps with an eMTB

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A taste of things to come, under clear blue skies in the Chablais region.

From the Chablais to the Beaufortain, between the Haute-Savoie and the Savoie, infinite shades of green are on display. These lush, flowery meadows have extended the fame of some cheeses from the Northern Alps (Abondance, Beaufort, Reblochon) well beyond the borders of France. The mountain pasture tracks are a godsend for mountain biking.

The valleys are connected, but the mountain passes need to be carefully selected in order to be technically accessible to e-bikes. Here, on the Col de la Golèse where the trail plunges towards the Giffre Valley and the resort of Samoëns.

The Cirque du Fer à Cheval is a popular place for outdoor activities. The tumultuous waters of the Giffre are a magnet for white water rafters, as well as mountain bikers who are happy to finish their ride with a local beer brewed with spring water.

For almost 40 years, ski resorts have been looking for ways to attract tourists all year round. The effects of global warming are precipitating a shift to the "4 seasons", promoted by the tourist industry, but oh so difficult to implement.

Finding a rhythm, gaining altitude and contemplating the flowers and the views on the way to the Belleville Valley, in the Tarentaise. Here, the Fireweed and the Centaurea offer an explosion of pink and fuchsia.

Battered by the elements over time, the walls of this sheepfold cling on as best they can. In the distance, the pylons and the ski lifts are testimony to the profound changes to pastoral life in the Alps.

Smooth, flowy singletrack aside, the alpine pastures are particularly dry. It's the month of August in the Tarentaise, and the water deficit is notable.

A colourful collection of beehives. In the mountains in particular, the survival and genetic integrity of the black bee is a major issue. The only subspecies adapted to the mountain climate, it's paradoxically threatened by the development of beekeeping and the hybridization that goes with it.

Just like the Madeleine or Iseran passes, the Encombres Valley and pass of the same name are a link between the Tarentaise and the Maurienne.

The sanctuary of Notre Dame du Charmaix (15th century) is revealed in the hollow of a valley. Historically it was an important passage to Italy. It's difficult to imagine that 2km away, and 250 meters below, tons of goods and more than 5500 vehicles transit every day to and from Italy, via the Fréjus Tunnel.

Frontier summit between the Northern and Southern Alps, the Mont Thabor (3178m) can be discovered from the Maurienne or from the Briançon area.

The tracks are not technical here, offering plenty of opportunities to take in the stunning views.

I'm a Poor Lonesome Cowboy...

Although the idea of this itinerary is to avoid singletrack trails...

... the passage over the Col de la Vallée Étroite (2434m) is unavoidable and adds a major difficulty. The opportunity to improve your technical skills!

The bulbous bell towers of the Chablais and Aravis have given way to spire bell towers. In the mountainous regions, baroque style religious art is in abundance. Here, the village of Cervières.

Early morning light and bucolic scenery on the way up the Col d'Izoard.

An encounter between roadies and eMTB riders on the way up the Col d'Izoard. A word of encouragement when overtaking is always nice...

The Lac de Roué, surrounded by characteristic Queyras larch trees, is a perfect place for a picnic, or even a quick dip during the summer months.

Typical of the mountain architecture of the Southern Alps, the "fustes" were used for housing, storage and drying of crops on the balconies, with stables on the ground floor.

More rudimentary huts such as these were probably only used to store and dry hay. The shingle roofing allows these barns to blend seemlessly into the landscape.

Overlooking the Guil valley, the Queyras Fort is an ancient fortified castle, built in the 13th century and renovated into a stronghold a few centuries later by Vauban.

"The sun is shining for all", but especially here in the Hautes Alpes, which is one of the sunniest departments in France. Between the Briançonnais, Queyras, Gapençais, and Buëch... the department is a paradise for cyclists of all kinds.

Panorama of the Queyrassine mountains with a mobile antenna in the foreground. Considered a blot on the landscape, yet nevertheless necessary for the economic and demographic dynamism of the area. Like wind turbines in windy areas, the presence of these antennas is the subject of heated discussions...

The mighty Mont Viso (3841m) overlooks the Queyras on the French side and the Piedmont on the Italian side. Home to the source of the longest river in Italy, the Po, which flows for 652 km through the peninsula to the Adriatic Sea.

Last few kilometers in France. The road to the Col d'Agnel, the second highest road pass in France and Italy (2748m), is dominated by the Pain de Sucre and the Viso. Closed in winter, it is a superb area for snowshoeing and ski touring.

The Alps in all their splendor...

Even with a "big bike", we feel very small. In the background, the Ecrins Range.

Change of atmosphere as we cross over into Italy! The Col d'Agnel blocks the clouds coming from the east, resulting in hgher rainfall on the Italian side. The freshly mowed meadows and well maintained sheepfolds testify to the agropastoral activity of our transalpine neighbours.

In spite of the clouds gathering on the Piedmontese summits, a siesta in the sun offers a welcome break. Especially as the afternoon's programme is big descents followed by beers!

A superb balcony track typical of the area.

In the Val Maira. If riding a mountain bike in the mountains is an art, what about finding the best picnic spot?!

The cows enjoy the Piedmontese sun.

Arrival in Cuneo! The small town is full of charm, its ochre facades brightening up the grey cobblestones of the numerous pedestrian streets. Cuneo marks the end of the journey, and with it the nostalgia of the previous days...

Thanks to Ignacio and Pascal, Vélorizons mountain bike guides, for these photos of the first two parts of this magnificent Grande Traversée des Alpes by eMTB: From Lake Geneva to the Gates of the Vanoise et From the Gates of the Vanoise to the Val Maira.
From Cuneo to the Mediterranean., The Haute Route du Sel (High Salt Road) is the third act of this journey.

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