Les Piards / Lamoura
This iconic Tour du Jura Vélo Sport stage through the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Jura leads cyclists to the climb up Septmoncel’s famed hairpin bends. Featuring repeatedly in Tour de France stages, this remarkable ascent links Saint-Claude, capital town of the Haut-Jura area, to the Jura ski resort of Les Rousses. Guiding riders through impressive limestone gorges, high-altitude forests and deep valleys known as combes, this beautiful cycling stage also provides the opportunity to learn more about Jura craft traditions in the museums at Saint-Claude, Lajoux and Lamoura.
Cycle route from Les Piards to Lamoura
After a stretch on quiet little roads along the Plateau du Grandvaux, there’s a steep, winding descent to Les Près-de-Valfin, then you join the D437 road, which is much busier, as well as being winding (take care), to coast on to Saint-Claude. In Saint-Claude, take the direction of Septmoncel’s hairpin bends (‘‘lacets’’ in French) via the D436. This mountain road is very steep, with an average gradient of 4.5% over 16km, plus it has very many bends and can be very busy at rush hour. Take care, therefore, cycling as far as Lajoux.
Practical information
- All manner of services available in Saint-Claude, Septmoncel and Lamoura
- Train station accessible at Saint-Claude
- Accommodation available in Saint-Claude, Septmoncel-Les Molunes, Lajoux and Lamoura
- Accueil Vélo-accredited accommodation in Lamoura (Hotel des Arobiers)
- Electric bike recharging point freely accessible at the Maison du Parc in Lajoux
- Bike repair facilities in Saint-Claude
Gradients and elevation
Road types
Surface
Don't miss
- Haute vallée de la Bienne
- Saint-Claude, French capital of pipe-making and diamond-cutting : Musée de l’Abbaye; Musée de la Pipe et du Diamant; the cathedral…
- Ligne ferroviaire touristique des Hirondelles (a tourist railway line)
- Lacets de Septmoncel (a series of hairpin bends) and the Chapeau de Gendarme (a curiously shaped geological formation)
- Hautes-Combes landscapes
- Lamoura: Musée des Lapidaires (on precious-stone cutting); Lamoura lake and peat bog
Comté cheese-tastings in local cheese-making facilities known as fruitières - Lajoux: Maison du Parc Naturel du Haut-Jura
