This old road winds it's way steeply up the mountain for 700m. The French built this back in the days of colonial rule but has fallen into disrepair in the years since. I tackled it during the night but even in the dark it was impressive and undoubtedly offered great panoramic views of the surrounding country. There will be a lot of hike-a-bike involved especially as parts of the road have collapsed into ravines. These sections require climbing down and back up on the other side so it is not to be underestimated. The road after these points becomes extremely rocky and I opted to push rather than ride a lot of the time. It was worth it for the summit and the descent down the other side. A shepherd's tent straddles the road at the summit. A perfect bivvy spot if you find yourself up here in the middle of the night like I did.
You head into another remote section of the Atlas Mountain Race course, likely one of the most difficult and frustrating. The stones are large and loose and it will likely be a hike for several kilometres. There is also very little resupply in this whole area. Do treat this section with caution and make sure you don’t get caught short with supplies. It will take longer than expected.