Tête des Fournéous

Tête des Fournéous (Montgenèvre)

The ridge crossing above Montgenèvre to the west of Mont Chaberton offers an epic ascent and descent with magnificent views and breathtaking landscapes.

Description

This impressive mountain bike tour starts just north of Briançon in the small village of La Vachette. The route rides steadily uphill on a gravel path through wooded areas until you reach the alpine village of Montgenèvre. The well-known winter sports resort is crossed before the next ascent begins on a gravel road towards Col de la Lauze.

In the upper section, the rideable part of the ascent ends at around 2200 meters above sea level. From here, the mountain bike is pushed or carried in sections. At the Col de la Lauze, a wide panoramic view opens up, while only a few meters in altitude are missing to the highest point of the tour.

The Tête des Fournéous at 2682 meters above sea level marks the highest point of the ridge. From here, an impressive high mountain landscape presents itself - steep rock formations alternate with gentle grassy slopes, and the sandy trails, which can be ridden almost as if on absorbent cotton, give this section a magic all of its own.

The descent back towards Montgenèvre is flowing and playful. The difficulties are between S1 and S2, without any pronounced key sections. After crossing the main road, you use a few more trail cut-offs to finally get back to the starting point at La Vachette.

Note for e-mountainbikes: The ascent is essentially also easy to do with electric assistance. From the Col de la Lauze onwards, however, there are a few sections where you will need to carry your bike or use the push assist.

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