Cycling routes

Valais Cycling Tour: Veysonnaz - Verbier (stage 7)

Veysonnaz

3/8°

Closed

From Veysonnaz to Verbier, this seventh stage takes you over the Col des Planches, a challenging climb that is well worth the effort!

Difficulty

Difficult

Length

82.75 km

Duration

5:00 h

Description

The first part of this stage takes you along the sides of the mountain to the village of Isérable before the descent into the Rhone Valley. From Riddes to Martigny via Saxon, the route is straight and relatively flat. However, the wind can work for or against you. This part of the journey takes you through vineyards and orchards, typical of the Rhone valley. After reaching the town of Martigny, it’s time to attack the Col des Planches. While the final ascent towards Verbier is less difficult than the previous climb, you are certainly starting to feel the day’s effort in your legs. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Val de Bagnes on your last sprint to the top.

Turn-by-turn directions

The beginning of the stage, from Veysonnaz to Isérable, is relatively easy. And the kilometres are just eaten up at a good pace from Riddes to Martigny. The effort really begins on the second half of the route with the ascent to Col des Planches and the final climb to Verbier. From Martigny, the climb starts on some unrelenting slopes to reach the Col des Planches, but you are rewarded with some stunning scenery. The descent into the Val de Bagnes will give you some much needed recovery time before you attack the final climb to Verbier. A fact worth remembering while spinning up those final switchbacks is that Alberto Contador won a legendary stage on this very climb during the 2009 Tour de France.

Start

Veysonnaz, Route de Pra 4Z (1335m)

Destination

Verbier, Place Centrale 12 (1490m)

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Author's recommendation

In the Rhone Valley, the wind usually changes directions between 11am and noon. From Riddes to Martigny, you are more likely to be pushed by the wind in the morning than in the afternoon.

Technical information

Altitude

1491m

459m

Ascent

+2319m

Descent

-2160m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

Bus from CFF train and bus station at Sion.

Approach

From the autoroute A9, take Sion exit 26 or 27 Sion and follow signs towards Nendaz. After several kilometres going up hill take the fork to the left towards Veysonnaz.

Parking

This tour is one stage of the Valais Cycling tour where the finish is not at the same place as the starting point. Therefore, we recommend arriving by public transport. Otherwise use the Grangettes parking (in the underground of Hotel Chalet Royal), follow the local park routeing to access it.

Source

This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion