Little known until its dramatic entry into the Tour de France in 2013, Col de Sarenne links Mizoën to Alpe d’Huez via a narrow, wild road through the heart of the Grandes Rousses, as spectacular as it is demanding.
An irregular climb through the Grandes Rousses
From Mizoën, it’s 12.8 km for 954 m of elevation gain, averaging 7.5%, with sections exceeding 13%. The profile lurches between flat stretches and sustained ramps all the way to the summit at 1,999 m.
A narrow, exposed road
Unlike the busy, well-travelled alpine passes, the Col de Sarenne road stays narrow, unguarded above its many drop-offs, and poorly maintained outside the summer months. Constant vigilance is needed, especially on the tightest sections.
Getting the ride right
A wide-range cassette makes the steepest sections far more manageable, especially since the uneven surface doesn’t always allow for safe out-of-the-saddle efforts. A margin of caution on the exposed sections is worth more here than chasing pure performance.
When to go
June to September — the altitude and the road’s rough state make the climb inadvisable outside this window, with the surface often still degraded or partly closed in spring.
Good to know
Alpe d’Huez, at the finish, offers every service needed to extend a stay in the Oisans, while Mizoën, the starting point, keeps the quiet charm of a small mountain village still off the beaten track.
