Our third day of riding was a different kind of experience altogether, with no bike park stuff at all.

Heading into this holiday I was largely uninformed. Partly, I’m just so distracted by work, partly I was very happy to allow Lloyd to make decisions in the best interest of us all. So it was that I had only a sketchy idea of the geography in the area we were headed.

This included knowing that the iconic Tour de France climb to the summit of the Col d’Izoard was just up the road.

For today’s ride, that’s exactly where we were headed. In fact, after being bussed up and over the summit past numerous roadies peppering the slopes in the wheel tracks of their heros we continued a little way down to the Col de la Platriere car park.

A spectacular ridge line

Starting from this layby/viewpoint we picked up a path busy with hikers and walkers. Over the next mile and a half we climbed another 500ft to the 7720ft (2350m) summit of Col du Tronchet. The rolling trail was made for hikers and demanded a few yards of bike pushing in solidarity. Meanwhile the thin air had me gasping for breath at the slightest exertion.

From the Tronchet summit – just about at the tree line – we rolled along a fairly level and easy section before starting on a 4.5 mile descent to Fort Queyras at 4,500ft (1370m). What started simply soon got much steeper and much harder along a narrow ridge line trail above Brunissard and La Chalp. Huge drops of scree dropped away to our right.

I started to really enjoy myself as we dropped into the pine woods. The trails were quite steep and narrow and sections were also quite steppy. In an odd sort of way it reminded me of a kind of Surrey Hills on steroids with sandstone rocks and a bit of loam.

It was a case of guiding the bike down the steep trail but the natural flow suited me and it felt we were really going somewhere.

By the time we reached our van (now at the bottom of the valley thanks to Steve’s friend Cas) I was surprised we only had about seven miles clocked after nearly two hours of riding.

Flowy singletrack

Next, we went back up to the Col d’Izoard summit and started on a long descent back to Briancon. There was to be no lunch stop today.

The first three miles were again on a thin ribbon of singletrack down through the pass, and I often found myself alone, with the Prof and Elliot miles ahead and Lloyd and JR behind me, to the point I was worrying I’d taken a wrong turn.

I just pressed on, down heavily wooded slopes and switchbacks that went on and on, relieved to eventually meet up with the leaders.

Occasionally we popped out onto the Col d’Izoard road for a few hundred metres before diving off onto long, super fast gravel tracks which were a long way from the riding earlier in the day. They allowed for a little mental relaxation.

As we melted in temperatures close to 30°C we dropped off the road to take in the reservoir that provides Briancon with all the hydro-electric power it needs. Some sandy singletrack and a byzantine route through steeply wooded slopes popped us out close the the town centre with about 18.5 miles clocked for the day.

Summary

Only some of today’s riding was truly technical but I really enjoyed myself and was happy for an early-ish finish. The Prof and Elliot took Steve up on the offer of an extra run after a late lunch at the chalet while the rest of us simply chilled out!

While at least a third of today’s riding was on fast but simple gravel tracks, I really enjoyed the mix of riding without any bike park stuff. The ridge line above Brunissard was pretty testing but suited me, while the rest was a useful exploration of the area with some very engaging singletrack.

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.