Mountain Biking and Cycling

Visitors have started to call the area 'le eldorado VTT' and for good reason. The mountains and valleys offer a huge variety of single track and you can choose your level of expertise and commitment. The FFC
 ( Federation Francaise de Cyclisme) has marked out a number of trails of varying length and difficulty. Details are available from the tourist information and you just follow the VTT (Velo tout terraine) signs dotted along the trail. For a bit more involvement, buy one of the local VTT guides. Or, for the full-on experience just buy the local IGN map of the area and have a blast.

There are three local ski resorts offering bike parks and descents serviced by lifts. These are Vars, Bike Park de Les Orres and Bike Park de Montgenèvre. Check out their websites for operating dates, normally beginning in July and operating through to September; and for events and meets.

When the the French write about cycling in the Haute-Alpes they use terms like mythique, plaisir and passion. Graced with sweeping roads, the mountains, the cols made famous by le Tour and wonderful weather ...who could blame them.

Routes radiate out of Guillestre, North, South, East and West. North to d'Izoard and on to Galibier followed by the 32km swoop back following the Durance. South in to the deep valleys and cols of the Ubaye. East to col Agnel and the Italian alps and South to lac de Serre-Ponçon for the 100km circuit around its shores.