description of tour
Easy warm-up from Gstaad on a very easy 25 km mainly in descent. We cross the Pays d'Enhaut along the river Saanen on small routes, passing Chateau d'Oex and Rossinière. The bike almost rolls on its own. ;-).
Change just after having passed the border of Canton Fribourg. In Montbovon we turn left for a long climb of 12 km in the very idyllic Hongrin valley. Arriving at the Hongrin barrage we have done some 400 vertical meters but it's not all over yet, there are short but steep ramps to follow. Recovery section when you see the military barrack and follow along the lake.
Towards the end of the lake a reset to serious stuff: from the junction to the summit of Pierre de Moëllé it's only 3 km, but with inclines in the two-digit range (arriving at a max of 21%). On the sommet a short rast is deserved, offering stunning views towards both sides (you'll see the Mont Blanc). Long and very technical descent on bad tarmac with some gravel on the road, and there are some potholes. Before arriving at the village of La Comballaz we turn right and take a beautiful wavy route to Leysin. Having crossed the village there comes a fast descent towards Le Sepey (3 km of main road with medium traffic volume).
We cross the village of Le Sepey and face a beautiful climb to La Forclaz, tiny chalet village, nice small roads bring us down to Les Diablerets.
Time to mobilise the last forces: long climb of 7 km with an average incline of 8%, some ramps again in the two-digits. Fantastic alpine scenery, great views to the Diablerets massif. On the high plateau some gravel passages, the longest about 1 km (all easy by road bike with the exception of a short piece of about 150 meters where pushing the bike may be an option).
When you arrive at picturesque Lac Retaud, the work on this tour is done! Descent towards Col de Pillon, then on the large main road down to Gsteig and some crank rotations back to Gstaad.
Change just after having passed the border of Canton Fribourg. In Montbovon we turn left for a long climb of 12 km in the very idyllic Hongrin valley. Arriving at the Hongrin barrage we have done some 400 vertical meters but it's not all over yet, there are short but steep ramps to follow. Recovery section when you see the military barrack and follow along the lake.
Towards the end of the lake a reset to serious stuff: from the junction to the summit of Pierre de Moëllé it's only 3 km, but with inclines in the two-digit range (arriving at a max of 21%). On the sommet a short rast is deserved, offering stunning views towards both sides (you'll see the Mont Blanc). Long and very technical descent on bad tarmac with some gravel on the road, and there are some potholes. Before arriving at the village of La Comballaz we turn right and take a beautiful wavy route to Leysin. Having crossed the village there comes a fast descent towards Le Sepey (3 km of main road with medium traffic volume).
We cross the village of Le Sepey and face a beautiful climb to La Forclaz, tiny chalet village, nice small roads bring us down to Les Diablerets.
Time to mobilise the last forces: long climb of 7 km with an average incline of 8%, some ramps again in the two-digits. Fantastic alpine scenery, great views to the Diablerets massif. On the high plateau some gravel passages, the longest about 1 km (all easy by road bike with the exception of a short piece of about 150 meters where pushing the bike may be an option).
When you arrive at picturesque Lac Retaud, the work on this tour is done! Descent towards Col de Pillon, then on the large main road down to Gsteig and some crank rotations back to Gstaad.