サンフルールの峠・トップ11

Quite a climb up the valley. There's a bit more of a climb after this pass heading north, though.

From Sagnette, stay on the D39. This climb is 2.4 kilometers long, with a positive elevation gain of 165 meters. The Col de La Griffoul from La Sagnette has an average gradient of 7%. Afterward, let yourself glide into the magnificent Brezons Valley.

The Rolland Breach was mildly challenging for this 72yo when dry. Descending in the wet would need good grippy footwear. There is an alternative GR400 track bypass

This spot in the mountains is known as the "Breche de ROLAND." However, the name doesn't originate from the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, but rather must be located in the far west of the country, on the border between France and Spain. There, in the northern Pyrenees, the legend of Roland as a brave fighter against the Saracens (who had occupied large parts of the Iberian Peninsula) in the service of Emperor Charlemagne is rooted.

This climb captures everything Auvergne has to offer. Starting in the charming and famous village of Salers, it ends at another symbol of this region known for its volcanoes: Puy Mary. On the bike side, it's a 23-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 3.7%. Be careful, however, as this low gradient is due to the long, five-kilometer flat stretch after the Col de Néronne. Save your energy for the last two kilometers, which are formidable, with a gradient that never drops below 10%.

Just a stone's throw from Puy Mary, the Pas de Peyrol offers superb views of the Cantal mountains. Its ascent is nearly 12 kilometers long and averages 5.6%.

At an altitude of 1,588 meters, the Pas de Peyrol is located between the Puy Mary and the Puy de la Tourte. It is known to be the highest road pass in the Massif Central and is worth it, because the last few kilometers have high percentages. There you can admire Puy Mary which peaks at an altitude of 1,783 metres. It is one of the peaks of the Cantal mountains. It is easily recognizable with its pyramidal silhouette.

A bit of an uphill climb but worth the effort