The Best Way to Ride Up Alpe d’Huez (It’s not the 21 hairpins!)

In todays video I ride an alternate route up Alpe d’Huez one I find more pleasant than the classic main road’s 21 hairpins, climbing from Allemont, across the Pas de la Confession balcony road and finishing over the stunning Col de Sarenne the same Pass that will feature in the Queen Stage of the 2026 Tour de France.

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Al DuZ is an absolutely mythical climb and needs no introduction. But what quite a lot of you might not realize from just watching the tour to France is it’s actually a rather busy main road. So, in today’s video, I’m going to take you up an alternate route up this legendary climb and one I think has far more breathtaking views and actually, if you’re not doing an effort up the tour to France climb, is a far more pleasant bike ride. But yeah, let’s get away from this road and get started. So, this alternate route starts further up the valley from Borg in a town called Alammon. And we’re going to be traversing that big cliff face up there and popping out of the town of Uz. Yeah. So today’s climb starts in the small town of Alamond which is the bottom of the Ciglandon. And the first thing we’re going to have to do is a switchbacks up to the barrage. Couple of quick hairpins up to the barrage and then we go up into them woods. Fortunately, this is the last bit on the busy road. Should be a lot quieter when we get up into the woods. Okay, we’re going to make a right turn here up into the forest. Yeah, we’ve got seven or eightk of this lovely forest road. Some really nice switchbacks and it’s really cool in these woods. As we come up, you can see sort of the downhill mountain bike tracks as well where they do the mega avalanche. And also, since I last skied here, there’s now a cable car from Alamond, which is pretty cool. So much this being my alternate quiet back road route. Turns out there’s a triathlon on today and there must have been a one or two thousand triathletes bombing down this descent. I think most of them are staying in the town and this is the shortcut down to the start. But it’s still rather pleasant. The only other unfortunate thing is the local council I think’s just been graveling the roads. So there’s loads of gravel down which is bit of a shame but I can’t complain too much about that cuz unlike Chester East back home, at least they actually care about maintaining the roads here. Now, there isn’t a sponsor for today’s video, but I’m trying to grow my other socials. So, I’d really appreciate it if you could give my Instagram and Straa a follow down below. And if you’re not already, make sure to get yourself subscribed on YouTube as well. So, we’re approaching Villard Rakula, which is our little halfway stop off up the climb. And this is where the views get really stunning. So we’re up in the village of Villa Recula now and this is where we go on to the pass of the confession. This is a really narrow road above quite a sheer cliff above Borgo and there are some absolutely stunning views up here, but it is one to be a bit careful on and it’s definitely not one to try and ride like a hero. No bonus points for the descent there. As with a lot of these back roads in the Alps, there’s quite a high chance of there being rubble and rocks in the road as they don’t regularly sweep these roads. So yeah, here we go. The start of the really impressive bit past de la confession. Oh, it’s lovely and quiet finally after all them triathletes bombing down that descent. That must be the way they’ve told them to come down from the town. Just my look on the day I come out to shoot the video about a quiet route upd. The triathlon’s in town and it’s the busiest I’ve ever seen it. down there in the valley. You can see the bottom of the outdoors climb where we’re going to be joining soon. And look at that stunning view. This though is really a road you do not want to come off the edge of. Okay, now it’s descent time into the village of Uzz. And then unfortunately we do have to do a couple of kilometers on the main road. Now this little climb through town is another way of avoiding a bit more of the main road, but it is a bit of a wall and maybe not one for old school gears. Well, that was a fun little shortcut, but flipping heck, that was steep. Made me feel like I was back home over in the Peak District there. So, yeah, time for a couple of corners on the main Alps road before taking another little detour. It is so busy up on this road. I can’t believe it sometimes. And this is where we’re going to take another little detour off the main road. Even though I think this actually might be the busier route into town. It’s all in the name of having an alternate climb. So yeah, we’re going to make a right turn here at the cable car station. And this takes us out into the bottom of town at the bottom of the tour to France finishing straight. Over there in the distance you can see the top couple of hair pins of the ordinary climb. The biggest perk of this route is despite there still being a large amount of traffic on the road is where it takes you out in town. Now the normal climb, you do really weave your way through the middle of town. Whereas on this route takes you out right at the bottom of the torance finish straight. So there’s no messing about through the hotels, under the bridges and round all the roundabouts in the middle of town. And also you get to see these amazing views. Just 500 meters to go now up through town to the finish line. And this is where we’re rejoining the standard tour to France route on this roundabout. This is where the riders have just had a little rest for their legs on a short flat section before the final couple hundred meters to the finish line up there. Let’s give it one last little kick. And there you go. You have arrived. So, we finally reached the top of the Alp Dues climb. But actually, this isn’t the end of the ride. And instead of just going straight back down again in the theme of the alternate route, we’re going to continue climbing up over the Seren, which was actually used in the 2013 Tour to France, but hasn’t seen any major racing since. Hot off the press, ASO have just announced the route for the 2026 Tour to France. And the queen stage is going to be finishing the other way over the Seren and down into the town of AlduZ which is going to be an absolute killer stage after the quadair and Gibby earlier on. And what’s better I’m going to be able to race that stage myself in the 2026 ATA tour. And of course I’ll be making a video all about it next summer. It’s also the perfect route for me getting back to where I’m staying in Leazal as the bottom of the descent off it takes us out at the barrage. So yeah, this is where we’re detouring off the main road and up there somewhere over the Seren. I’ve not done this climb in a long time, but it is absolutely beautiful up here. I think last time I did it was actually 12 years ago when the tour to France came over here. Okay, and here we go. This is the point where we’re coming out of town onto the route of the Seren. And if I remember correctly, I think the road surface is a bit rough over here as it’s not really a road that gets used by anything other than tourist traffic and bikes. And actually before the main climb, we have quite a bit of a descent to do. And the call is somewhere just up between them two hills in the distance. Okay. And after all that descending, it’s just about time to finally start climbing again. It’s not the hardest climb in the world this. It’s only about 2 and a half kilometers, but it is fairly steep, averaging around 9%. You’ve already done most of the work climbing to the town of Outdue. So, this is just the cherry on top. At least when you’re climbing on it, this road surface doesn’t feel as bad. That gravel track you can see over there is actually part of the end of the Serenki run, which I’m not sure if it still holds a title, but always was the longest black run in Europe. At least it was 10 years ago when I last did it. Right, we’re going up into the beautiful alpine meadows. Despite the rough surfaces and places, it is absolutely beautiful up here. Just look at that. Final kilometer and a half now. Straight up through these meadows to the coal. Here we go. Up through the beautiful meadows approaching the top of the Saren. Only got a couple hundred meters to go now. Hello, mate. you guarding the toilet. Okay, so at 1,999 meters, we have finally made it to the top of the Seren. That is an awesome climb to do and I strongly recommend it if you’re out in the area. It is absolutely lovely up here. Now it’s time to descend down the other side to the bottom of the DAP climb and the barrage at the Lac Shamon. Once again though, we are on a bit of a back road here, so it’s really not the descent to be going for any records on and definitely not the type to try and be a hero. There’s quite a high chance of rocks in the road, so it’s really one to be careful on. Right, let’s get going. God, I wouldn’t want to be riding a TT bike up here. Whilst beautiful, yeah, this is not the descent to push any speed records. So, there’s a high chance of lots of rocks in the road and potholes and uneven surfaces, but it’s probably still better than my home road in Cheshure. Lot beautiful, but lethal. You do not want to be coming off the side of the road here. Loads of loose gravel. We’re now about halfway down the descent and it’s absolutely beautiful here. Just look at that view behind me. Absolutely stunning. But yeah, that descent was proper sketchy and definitely one to take steady, especially on my Garvin rim brakes. They are not cut out for this. Time to ride down to the lake and I’ll check in with you again when I’m down there. [Music] We’re now basically at the bottom of the surrender set at the barrage and about to climb up to Duzal, which will be the end of the ride today. [Music] And there we go. Back in town. We’ve made it. And that concludes my alternate alduZ climb. And I think these alternate routes are far more enjoyable than the standard to France climb. Of course, like in the video I posted earlier in the year, you’ve got to have an effort up the iconic hair pins. But to be honest with you, once you’ve given it a go, it is a busy main road. So unless you’re out of season, trying these alternate routes can be a phenomenal way to mix up the old rides. There are loads of other really exciting back roads all around the Borglas area. And hopefully next summer when I’m back out there, I’ll be able to take you up a few more of them. Anyway, if you haven’t already, get yourself subscribed down below and I’ll see you all in the next one.