La Bonette 2,862m France ★★★★
Ridden...
2008, 2011
Description...
In 2011 both Nick & I were proud of our achievement having ridden our bikes up La Bonette in the rain. You can read our ride reports for this summit in our 2008 tour and most recently in the Best of the Alps Tour in 201 (the wet one).
La Bonette is pretty far south (see map above). In fact just before the summit the main road turns left and there is a sign post stating Nice 140km! It is the highest pass in the Alps and we could certainly tell with the rain and snow that faced us in July 2011. The run up from Jausiers takes you first through Col du Restefond and then on to La Bonette, although it is hard to know where one changes to the other. At times the road is fast and sweeping but there are some tight corners and quite a lot of cow dung, cyclists and the occasional runner to keep you focused! Hence its 4 rather than a maximum 5 star rating. Also as you near the summit there is a lot of water from the ice even on dry days.
In 2008 we couldn’t reach the summit due to the road being blocked by snow (see photos). This is clearly not a pass to ride before July!
2008, 2011
Description...
In 2011 both Nick & I were proud of our achievement having ridden our bikes up La Bonette in the rain. You can read our ride reports for this summit in our 2008 tour and most recently in the Best of the Alps Tour in 201 (the wet one).
La Bonette is pretty far south (see map above). In fact just before the summit the main road turns left and there is a sign post stating Nice 140km! It is the highest pass in the Alps and we could certainly tell with the rain and snow that faced us in July 2011. The run up from Jausiers takes you first through Col du Restefond and then on to La Bonette, although it is hard to know where one changes to the other. At times the road is fast and sweeping but there are some tight corners and quite a lot of cow dung, cyclists and the occasional runner to keep you focused! Hence its 4 rather than a maximum 5 star rating. Also as you near the summit there is a lot of water from the ice even on dry days.
In 2008 we couldn’t reach the summit due to the road being blocked by snow (see photos). This is clearly not a pass to ride before July!