Stage Names for Google Maps
Day 1 — Friday 22 May
- 1Barcelonnette
- 2Jausiers
- 3Col de la Bonette
- 4Barcelonnette
- 5Col de Vars
- 6Guillestre
- 7Col d'Izoard
- 8Briançon
Day 2 — Saturday 23 May
- 1Briançon
- 2Col du Lautaret
- 3Le Freney-d'Oisans
- 4Auris-en-Oisans
- 5Oz-en-Oisans
- 6Oulles
- 7Villard-Notre-Dame
- 8Bourg-d'Oisans
Day 3 — Sunday 24 May
- 1Bourg-d'Oisans
- 2Col de la Croix-de-Fer
- 3Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
- 4Col du Télégraphe
- 5Col du Mont-Cenis
- 6Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard
- 7Cormet de Roselend
- 8Col des Saisies
- 9Col des Aravis
- 10Annecy
Tip — use the KML file with "My Maps" on Google Maps for the full visual route with coloured traces. Copy the stage names above into standard Google Maps if you prefer to build each day's route manually.
01
Barcelonnette → Briançon
| Time | Stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | Barcelonnette MANDATORY FUEL Fill up before leaving. No station before Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée (60+ km). | 1 135 m |
| 1:30 PM | Jausiers Start of the Bonette climb: 23 km non-stop. | 1 240 m |
| 2:30 PM | Col de la Bonette ★★ Highest paved road in France. Optional summit loop at 2 860 m. Jacket mandatory. | 2 802 m |
| 4:00 PM | Barcelonnette (return) Quick pass through. No long stops. | 1 135 m |
| 5:00 PM | Col de Vars Open year-round. Wide, flowing road over Queyras and Ubaye ridges. | 2 108 m |
| 5:30 PM | Guillestre Medieval village. Fast transit toward the Izoard. | 980 m |
| 6:15 PM | Col d'Izoard ★★ The Casse Déserte — ochre rocks and larch trees. Beautiful golden-hour light at this time. | 2 360 m |
| 7:00 PM | Briançon Overnight Highest town in France. UNESCO Vauban old town to explore at dinner. | 1 326 m |
Mandatory fuel — Day 1
Barcelonnette before the Bonette. No gas station for 60+ km between Barcelonnette and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée.
Late departure
With a 1:00 PM start, pace is tight. No lingering at viewpoints — keep moving to reach Briançon before dark.
02
Briançon → Bourg-d'Oisans via GPX Loop
| Time | Stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Briançon Fuel Fill up before leaving. Long day of narrow roads ahead. | 1 326 m |
| 10:00 AM | Col du Lautaret Open year-round (vital road link). Views over the Écrins massif and La Meije. | 2 058 m |
| 11:00 AM | Le Freney-d'Oisans Quick coffee stop before the GPX back-roads loop. | 921 m |
| 11:45 AM | Auris-en-Oisans — D211A Narrow, technical climb up from the valley. | 1 302 m |
| 12:30 PM | Oz-en-Oisans — D44B Lunch Balcony village. Good lunch stop with views over the valley. | 1 335 m |
| 2:30 PM | Oulles — D221 Narrow, spectacular road. Watch for gravel. | 1 411 m |
| 3:30 PM | Villard-Notre-Dame ★ Cliff-hanging village. Dramatic drop back to the valley. | 1 523 m |
| 4:30 PM | Bourg-d'Oisans Overnight Fuel tonight Fuel up this evening for early departure Sunday. Long 460 km day ahead. | 719 m |
Road condition — late May
Secondary mountain roads may have winter gravel/debris. Ride the first 500m of each track cautiously.
Off-road option
Gorges de Sarenne (rated off-roading area, 4.6★) — 15 min from Le Freney. Could replace part of the loop if group prefers gravel.
03
Bourg-d'Oisans → Annecy
| Time | Stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | Bourg-d'Oisans Dawn departure mandatory. All cols above 2 000 m must be cleared by 1:00 PM to beat afternoon storms. | 719 m |
| 7:30 AM | Col de la Croix-de-Fer Check opening Historical opening ~23 May. VERIFY savoie-route.fr Saturday evening. Fallback: A41 via Grenoble. | 2 067 m |
| 9:00 AM | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Fuel Coffee Fill up. Quick coffee stop. | 556 m |
| 10:00 AM | Col du Télégraphe Open year-round. Tight hairpins on the climb. | 1 566 m |
| 11:30 AM | Col du Mont-Cenis Opened 8 May 2026. Reservoir lake on French-Italian border. | 2 083 m |
| 1:30 PM | Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard Risk — opening Historical opening ~28 May. Real risk still closed on 24 May. Plan B: N90 direct to Cormet de Roselend. | 2 188 m |
| 3:30 PM | Cormet de Roselend Quick lunch 3 dams, turquoise lake. 30-minute stop only. | 1 967 m |
| 4:30 PM | Col des Saisies 360° panorama over Mont-Blanc. | 1 633 m |
| 5:30 PM | Col des Aravis Open year-round. Last pass of the trip. | 1 486 m |
| 6:30 PM | Annecy Overnight End of riding. Night at Allobroges Park Hôtel — dinner in the old town, lakeside stroll if daylight allows. | 446 m |
Critical — Petit-Saint-Bernard
Opens around 28 May in recent years. On 24 May it may still be closed. Check savoie-route.fr Saturday evening. Plan B: N90 Lanslebourg → Bourg-Saint-Maurice → Cormet de Roselend directly (skipping PSB).
Croix-de-Fer
Historical opening ~23 May. Should be OK on 24 May but verify Saturday evening. If closed: drop to Grenoble via N85 + A41 to Annecy (2h highway).
Biker-Friendly Hotels
Two overnight stops · Verified motorcycle parking
Night 1 — Friday 22 May · Briançon
Logis Hôtel de la Chaussée
One motorcyclist review specifically mentions they welcomed a moto-tour group and even delayed dinner for them. Secure private parking behind the hotel, alpine-style rooms with wood and stone, excellent breakfast at €13, right in the heart of the Vauban old town.
📞 +33 4 92 21 10 37
Hôtel Mont Brison
A motorcyclist reviewer confirms: "safe motorcycle parking blocked off, not just for us but for several other groups." Good value, 200m from the gondola, many restaurants nearby.
📞 +33 4 92 21 14 55
Night 2 — Saturday 23 May · Bourg-d'Oisans
Hôtel des Alpes
Right in the town centre, motorcycle parking, recently renovated rooms, very welcoming staff. Well known among riders and cyclists throughout the Oisans valley. Book early — fills up fast in May.
📞 +33 4 76 80 00 16
Camping Le Colporteur (budget alternative)
Great choice if the group prefers a chalet vibe. Swimming pool, supermarket 5 minutes on foot, chalets available for groups. Fully immersed in cycling and moto culture.
📞 +33 4 82 79 00 13
Night 3 — Sunday 24 May · Annecy
Allobroges Park Hôtel
Best pick for the group: private parking with individual lockable garages for motorcycles, reception open 24/7, excellent breakfast, 5-minute walk to the old town and lake. Perfect central base for a celebration dinner to close the trip.
📞 +33 4 50 45 03 11
Hôtel Les Terrasses
A motorcyclist reviewer specifically mentions a locked private garage for their bike. Quieter, in a residential area 2 minutes from the train station — a calmer alternative if the group prefers a quieter night before heading home.
📞 +33 4 50 57 08 98
Practical Information
Fuel stops
Barcelonnette · Briançon · Bourg-d'Oisans · Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne · Lanslebourg · Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Opening check
sport-passion.fr · savoie-route.fr
Verify every evening before the next day
Verify every evening before the next day
Weather
Windy + Météo France — check at wake-up. If storms before 3 PM → delay or skip high col.
Cols at risk (24 May)
Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard (opens ~28 May) · Col de la Croix-de-Fer (opens ~23 May) — verify Saturday evening.
Group rules (4–6 motos)
+45 min buffer/day · Wait at each col · Physical rally point · One fuel coordinator
GPS / navigation
KML file compatible with Google My Maps. GPX format for Kurviger, Calimoto, Garmin BaseCamp.
Gear
Warm layer mandatory above 2 000 m · Rain gear recommended · Mixed tyres useful for GPX day
Temperature expected
Valley: 15–22°C · Passes above 2 000 m: 0–8°C · Jacket essential at all summit stops.