Road · France
La Plagne from Aime
A mountainous 21 km road cycling route from Le Breuil through Aime, Mâcot-la-Plagne and Le Villard, with 1,318 m of climbing over the Aime climb. Most of it (11.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 11 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 20.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,318 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 29 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Oct
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Le Breuil
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,318 m
- 21 km
Route description
- Le Breuil
- Aime
- Aime climb
- Mâcot-la-Plagne
- Le Villard
- Pra-Riond
- La Roche
- La Roche du Haut
- Crête Côte
Starting from Aime at 669 m, the route begins with a 3.6 km descent before a sustained climb of 16.5 km gaining 1317 m to reach La Plagne at 1987 m. The climb averages 8% with maximum gradients of 13.5%. The longest descent of 3.4 km happens just after the initial start.
The surface is mainly paved (95%), with some gravel and unpaved sections making up 4%. The route runs predominantly on main roads (11.4 km) of which 10.6 km are on the D 221. The main roads have no cycle lanes and include 11 km with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Minor roads, quiet streets, paths and tracks complete the route.
Facilities include a bakery and supermarket near the start around 2.6 km, and a restaurant near 13.8 km with toilets nearby. There is a 7.4 km stretch without café, shop or water between 2.9 km and 10.3 km. A bike shop is located near 1.8 km and there is a bailout station 2.4 km from the start. Several amenities are available at the finish in La Plagne.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Aime climb (16.5 km at 8 %).
- Tops out at 1,987 m, 20.1 km in.
Highlights
- Sustained 16.5 km climb averaging 8%
- Summit at 1987 m elevation
- Long 3.4 km descent near start
- Main roads mainly on D 221 for 10.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aime climb | 3.6 km | 16.5 km · 1317 m · 8 % · max 13.5 % | 16.5 km · 1317 m · 8 % | 1987 m |
Aime climb · full ascent, starts at 3.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 55% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 11 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 56% main road · 22% minor road · 16% quiet street · 4% path · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 11.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 11 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- D 221 (11 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 95% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 81% climbing · 17% descending · 2% flat
- Steep sections
- 15.9 km over 5% · 7.1 km over 8% · 2.4 km over 10%
- Longest descent
- 3.4 km from 0.1 km, dropping 178 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 58 cafés and restaurants, 8 shops, 2 water points, 1 petrol station, 12 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.8 kmBike Surgery · bike shop · 320 m off route
- 2.5 kmPharmacie de la Basilique · pharmacy · 100 m off route
- 2.6 kmLe Chalet du Pain · bakery · on the route
- 2.6 kmLa Vie Claire · supermarket · 110 m off route
- 2.7 kmToilets · on the route
- 10.3 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 13.8 kmLe Chalet de la Roche · restaurant · on the route
- 13.8 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 18.2 kmSpar · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 19.2 kmPetrol station · on the route
- 19.3 kmBike rental · 450 m off route
- 19.7 kmBoulangerie Montmayeur · bakery · 70 m off route
- 20.2 kmPharmacie de la Grande Plagne · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 20.4 kmToilets · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 2.4 km — Aime - La Plagne (station), 360 m off route
Stay after this ride
- Les Cristaux de La Plagne · apartment · 150 m from the finish
- UCPA Plagne Centre · hostel · 90 m from the finish
- Hôtel Terra Nova · hotel · 210 m from the finish
- HO36 · hotel · 290 m from the finish
- Araucaria · hotel · 350 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Boulangerie Montmayeur (130 m), Cafe de Montagne (80 m), A Tavola (10 m)
- Shops
- Spar (150 m), Sherpa (90 m)
Know before you go
- 7.4 km without café, shop or water from km 2.9 to 10.3
- 11.4 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 11 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limits
- 2.4 km sections over 10% gradient
