Cycling Lac du vieux-Emosson
Ride 25.9 kilometers gaining 2,081 meters at 6.7% average grade (8.9% climb only)
This is another amazing climb in one of the world’s top 5 cycling ares - Valais, Switzerland. Beware at the outset that the roadway to the finish is about 20% dirt and gravel. However, PJAMM’s uber adventurer, Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland, did the climb on a Colnago road bike with 28mm tires (as you can see from Ard’s slideshow and the photos below).
The mountaintop finish for Stage 17 of the 2016 TdF was at Lac d’Emosson
Lac d’Emosson is 4.2 kilometers from the finish of our route at Lac du Vieux Emosson
Ilnur Zakarin won the stage with a solo attack, but Chris Froome extended his tour lead by leaving the pack with old teammate Richie Porte on the final kilometer of the Emosson climb (average 17%).
Gravel section.
Back on the pavement
Ride across Émosson Dam at kilometer 21
The reservoir is for hydroelectric purposes. The first dam was known as Berberine Dam and was built in 1925. The old dam was submerged by the current 180 meter concrete wall that was completed in 1973.
Stage 17 of the 2016 Tour de France ended at Émosson Dam
Road to Lac du Vieux-Emosson as seen from Lac Emosson
It is 2 kilometers from the bottom to top dam.
1 kilometer between dams averages 16%.
Cabane du Vieux Emosson - Google Reviews
Climb finish is at Lac du Vieux Emosson (old Emosson Lake) which was completed
in 1955.
Thank you Ard.