It rained during the night, but it was reasonably dry and cosy under the tarp. After a coffee and a cereal bar, I set off. The clouds are hanging low, but it’s still dry so far. At a supermarket at Lac Saint-Point, I stop for refreshments before tackling the first pass fresh and energised. After 300 metres in altitude, mostly on hiking trails, I cross the green border into Switzerland. Greeted by the “Dent de Vaulion”, Lac de Joux and an increasingly strong headwind, I descend into the valley. On the last major climb of the tour, at the Col du Marchairuz, my strength wanes a little and I have to take several short breaks. I cycle on gravel tracks through the Vaud Jura with a strong headwind, before finally mastering the slope down to Lake Geneva at Bassins, which is really exhausting with mechanical brakes. After a dip in the lake, I reach Geneva. I don’t look quite so happy in the last photos – I don’t think the last section from Nyon to Geneva is worth it. Otherwise, a really successful bikepacking trip.
Lac de Saint-Point (F) – Geneva (CH)
Distance: 98 km (61 mi)
Altitude: 1200 m (3940 ft)
Date: 2025 May 3
0:00 Start in Lac de Saint-Point
3:30 French – Swiss Border
3:57 Lac de Joux
9:30 Arrival in Geneva
Music
The End by Quincas Moreira
Journey Home by Chris Haugen
City of the Wolf by Mini Vandals
Hallow’s Beach by Quincas Moreira
Good morning! The sun is coming up. Over there. And it has been raining this night, and I was wondering why my tent was getting smaller and smaller. That’s why. I’m out of water. I only had one coffe this morning That’s ok. I don’t think that anything will dry in this weather. So I’m going to pack wet stuff and heading for a grocery store, get water And then there are two climbs, 500 Meter each and then all downhill to Geneva On the road again. (Sorry for the bad sound quality) (I try to cover it up with some music) Found my grocery store filled up with water, had a sandwich, yoghurt drinks, bananas everything I need. Heading for the mountains again. I think I was hit by a tornado. But it’s over now. I don’t know. So. Garmin told me to climb again, so I climb. This is the beginning of the Col du Marchairuz ( 12 % ) You see the hiking trail there? Komoot want me to go this way. Up there. I think I will follow this guy. Nice view back on Lac de Joux. Here we are leaving Col du Marchairuz This is the last real climb of the tour. Yes. I think that’s it. I think we could call this the ‘Gravel Marchairuz’. Strong headwind. Slight uphill. Bye bye Jura Mountains. We are in Crans. Not Crans Montana. Crans. So. This is the cycling highway along the Lake Geneva. We don’t see the Lake Geneva because all the rich people bought up the land around the lake. The only beach they have is closed. (I don’t know if they’re fencing in or off, or if it’s just decoration) (But fences are very popular in this area.) (no comment)