SECOND-HAND BIKES AVAILABLE FROM SEPTEMBER
IMPORTANT : tout vélo acheté en ligne ne sera expédié qu’en septembre !
SECOND-HAND BIKES AVAILABLE FROM SEPTEMBER
IMPORTANT : tout vélo acheté en ligne ne sera expédié qu’en septembre !
The Izoard isn’t just a mountain pass; it’s a pilgrimage for any road cyclist. Starting from Arvieux, the climb begins gently through the meadows, then gets seriously tough after the hamlet of Brunissard. The road winds its way through the tight hairpin bends of the forest before opening out onto the breathtaking sight of the Casse Déserte. This lunar-like cirque, studded with rocky peaks and draped in large, unstable scree slopes, gives the impression of cycling on another planet. The final two kilometres are a test of courage, battling the high-altitude wind, to reach the memorial dedicated to Louison Bobet and Fausto Coppi at 2,360 metres. It is a legendary climb in the Tour de France, where every hairpin bend tells the story of cycling, demanding perfect pacing to avoid faltering on the final gradients, which average nearly 10 %.
For lovers of wide tyres and wild terrain, Arvieux is a royal gateway to the Queyras Regional Natural Park. Here, there are no ski lifts in the summer; you climb under your own power or with the help of a good electric motor on the pastoral trails. The goal? To reach the Clapeyto alpine chalets or cross the Furfande pass. Up there, the scenery opens up onto immense high-altitude meadows. The descents are on entirely natural «singles» (narrow trails), sometimes technical but incredibly fluid, where riding becomes a real game with the landscape. Between the carpets of pine needles in the forest and the more slippery shale areas at altitude, the terrain offers exceptional technical variety that will appeal to both cross-country fans and seasoned downhill riders.
Between the demands of the road and the technical challenge of mountain biking, Arvieux has become a prime location for Gravel and exploration cycling tours. The valley is filled with high-altitude forest tracks and old military roads, allowing you to avoid road traffic without venturing onto overly rough trails. Riding Gravel here means enjoying the freedom to turn off among the Brunissard alpine pastures to reach hidden viewpoints over the Guil valley. Very low gears and wide tyres are essential to tackle the gradients of the compacted earth and gravel forest tracks. This is the ideal activity for those who love endurance, self-sufficiency, and long-distance travel amidst completely unspoiled mountain nature.
The first reality of Arvieux is that the notion of «flat» simply doesn't exist. The valley rises constantly, alternating between short grassy plateaus and rocky passes that become more severe as you approach the summits. The main road surface is a perfect tarmac billiard table, but as soon as you leave it for the secondary network, the ground becomes wilder, made of shale and small rolling stones. Add to this the management of effort at altitude: above 1,800 metres, the air thins, the heart races faster, and the choice of gear ratios becomes crucial for maintaining a fluid cadence. Arvieux also serves as a strategic crossroads: by descending behind the Izoard, you gain access to the Briançonnais (Galibier, Lautaret), while by heading down towards the Gorges du Guil, you reach Guillestre, opening the way towards the Col de Vars or the terrible ascent to Risoul.
