Road · France
Super Besse from Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise
A mountainous 7 km road cycling route from Besse through Le Faux Sud, with 301 m of climbing over the Le Faux Sud climb. Most of it (5.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 4.7 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
- 7 km
- Elevation gain
- 301 m
- Riding time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Besse
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 301 m
- 7 km
Route description
- Besse
- Le Faux Sud
- Le Faux Sud climb
Starting at Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise at 1044 m, the route climbs 7 km to Super Besse, reaching 1314 m. The climb splits into two parts: the first 2.2 km averages 6.6% gradient with a maximum of 9.1%, gaining 147 m. After a short descent or flat section, the second climb of 2.9 km averages 5.4% with a maximum gradient of 10.6%, gaining 154 m.
The road surface is 99% paved with a small 1% gravel or unpaved section. The route mainly follows the D 149 road, with 5.3 km on main roads, 1 km on minor roads and 0.6 km on quiet streets. The main roads section lacks cycle lanes and 4.7 km has speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
Facilities at the start include several bakeries, cafés, restaurants, a pâtisserie, a bike shop, petrol station, shops, water sources, and toilets. After 1.1 km there is a 2.9 km stretch without cafés, shops or water. At the finish near Super Besse there are bakeries, convenience stores, restaurants, and a bar.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Le Faux Sud climb (2.9 km at 5.4 %).
- Tops out at 1,314 m, 6.6 km in.
Highlights
- Two distinct climbs with gradients up to 10.6%
- 7 km route climbing from 1044 m to 1314 m
- Route mostly on D 149 main road
- Facilities including bakery and café at start and finish
Along the route
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.2 km · 147 m · 6.6 % · max 9.1 % | — | 1192 m |
| Le Faux Sud climb | 3.8 km | 2.9 km · 154 m · 5.4 % · max 10.6 % | 2.9 km · 154 m · 5.4 % | 1314 m |
Le Faux Sud climb · full ascent, starts at 3.8 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 76% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 4.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 76% main road · 14% minor road · 9% quiet street · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 4.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- D 149 (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 71% climbing · 13% descending · 16% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.9 km over 5% · 1.3 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 44 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 6 water points, 1 petrol station, 7 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmPâtisserie Tartière Hervé · patisserie · 50 m off route
- 0 kmLa Poterne · kiosk · 70 m off route
- 0 kmFontaine du Quartier Saint-Jean · drinking water · 110 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 0 kmAuchan Supermarché · petrol station · 270 m off route
- 0 kmPharmacie de Besse · pharmacy · 100 m off route
- 0.1 kmBike shop · 390 m off route
- 6 kmVival · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 7 kmLa grignote Bessard · bakery · 60 m off route
- 7 kmToilets · 130 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Château du Bailli (castle)
- 7 km — Centre ludo sportif: les hermines (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Bercail de Mira · apartment · 40 m from the finish
- Bercail de Mira T3 · apartment · 230 m from the finish
- Hôtel Sabrina · hotel · 230 m from the finish
- Belambra Club le Chambourguet · apartment · 400 m from the finish
- Terre de Haut · apartment · 580 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Boulangerie Florian Mestas (30 m), Pâtisserie Tartière Hervé (80 m), La Grignotte Bessarde (60 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- La grignote Bessard (60 m), Lou Cantou (100 m), Mémé Joe (120 m)
- Shops
- Proxi (110 m)
Know before you go
- 2.9 km stretch without café, shop or water (km 1.1 to 4)
- 5.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 4.7 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits
- Brief 1% gravel or unpaved section
