{"id":98018,"date":"2026-07-11T13:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T11:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/?p=98018"},"modified":"2026-07-20T19:00:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T17:00:40","slug":"a-mountain-bike-route-this-long-and-this-beautiful-is-almost-unique-we-tried-the-craziest-route-of-the-summer-in-the-haute-tarentaise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/un-parcours-velo-en-montagne-aussi-long-et-aussi-beau-cest-presque-unique-on-a-essaye-le-trace-le-plus-dingue-de-lete-en-haute-tarentaise\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00abA cycling route in the mountains that is as long and as beautiful as this is almost unique\u00bb: we tried the wildest route of the summer in Haute Tarentaise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Forty kilometres, eight hamlets passed, two glaciers in the background and a breathtaking descent: welcome to La Fario, the new e-MTB route designed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hautetarentaise.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Haute Tarentaise Community of Municipalities<\/a> et Bike Solutions. We donned our helmets and took to the descent with instructor Louis Billot to test this trail, already a hit with thrill-seekers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>READ OUR SPECIAL REPORT :&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/high-tarentaise\/\">Haute Tarentaise, \u00abthe roof of Savoie\u00bb<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00abThe initial idea is to offer the valley a proper long-distance cycling route, by creating a path that links Tignes to Bourg-Saint-Maurice.\u00bb <\/em>explains in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/\">Le Petit Montagnard<\/a><\/em> Dylan Giraud-Pontier, manager of<a href=\"https:\/\/summitbike.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Summit Bike<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Classed as a blue run, La Fario measures 40 kilometres downhill (Tignes to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with approximately 750 metres of positive elevation gain), and 1,780 metres of positive elevation gain in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-98117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo \u00a9 Romain Boisaubert\/Le Petit Montagnard) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The course isn't technically tricky, but the elevation gain is well-earned. <em>\u00abGoing downhill, to be honest, it\u2019s a 100 % success. Going uphill, it\u2019s not particularly difficult, but given the elevation gain, it\u2019s best suited to families who are into sport.\u00bb<\/em> Dylan Giraud-Pontier is a French director, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for his work on short films, including \"The Perfect Place\" and \"A Breath.\" He has also directed music videos for various artists and has produced a number of projects through his company, Giraud-Pontier Productions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Forest paths, balconies and endless summits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the pitch, La Fario alternates moods. <em>\u00abThe route alternates between wide paths, roads, cycle paths, and a few more singletrack sections, with a bit of a mountain bike feel.\u00bb <\/em>Detail the manager of Summit Bike. Right from the start, at altitude, the high mountain atmosphere is immediate, with wide panoramas of the surrounding massifs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/old-growth-larch-trees-in-haute-tarentaise-birds-of-prey-breathtaking-views-we-took-a-walk-in-this-wild-sanctuary-on-the-doorstep-of-les-arcs\/\">Haute Tarentaise: hundred-year-old larches, black grouse, breathtaking views...<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the path plunges into the forest, into the undergrowth, before the valley narrows again as we descend. <em>\u00abWe really have a fantastic variety of landscapes. To do this as a day trip with children or adults who aren't used to mountain biking, the effect is truly guaranteed.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-98118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo \u00a9 Romain Boisaubert\/Le Petit Montagnard) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the ground, these are the contrasts that strike you: the hamlet of Le Monal, a listed site made entirely of mountain chalets, with its small bog-like lakes and breathtaking views of the Gurraz and Savine glaciers. <em>\u00abIt really looks the part\u00bb<\/em> Dylan Giraud-Pontier slides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The route then passes through Villaroger, before reaching Sainte Foy Tarentaise, then Bourg-Saint-Maurice via a shaded cycle path that runs alongside the Is\u00e8re, away from the national road. <em>\u00abYou feel a bit lost in the middle of nowhere once again.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A photo exhibition as a backdrop and already a success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A little cultural extra on this last section: <a href=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/a-true-open-air-art-gallery-in-haute-tarentaise-the-green-way-is-transformed-into-a-giant-photo-exhibition-this-summer\/\">A photo exhibition accompanies the cyclists along the cycle path.<\/a>. This year, photographer Yann All\u00e8gre, who is very active in the region, is exhibiting his work alongside nineteen other professional and amateur photographers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/a-breathtaking-gem-where-time-seems-to-stand-still-welcome-to-this-incredible-hamlet-in-the-haute-tarentaise-nestled-beneath-mont-pourri\/\">\u00abA breathtaking gem where time seems to have stood still\u2026 Welcome to this incredible hamlet in the Haute Tarentaise, nestled beneath Mont Pourri.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00abYou go down this path, it\u2019s a lot of downhill sections, and you can enjoy these beautiful views all along the way.\u00bb <\/em>note Dylan Giraud-Pontier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the attendance front, the summer launch has already borne fruit. <em>\u00abWe did the route with Sylvain, from Labo Shop, the partner shop where we rent the bikes, and he was telling me: it's impressive how many people are calling to rent bikes to do the Fario.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-98119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo \u00a9 Romain Boisaubert\/Le Petit Montagnard) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A success which he also attributes to the rarity of the concept. <em>\u00abA mountain cycling route as long and as beautiful as this is almost unique. It brings people back.\u00bb<\/em> Unanimous verdict for this monitor used to selling family outings. <em>\u00abThis course? It really ticks all the boxes.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Find out more :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Fario<\/strong> around 40 km (80 km return), blue level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elevation gain<\/strong> 1,780m ascent \/ 750m descent (in the direction Bourg-Saint-Maurice \u2192 Tignes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Average duration<\/strong> Around 4 hours for the ascent, 3 hours for the descent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The plot<\/strong> Bourg-Saint-Maurice marshlands, Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, Le Monal, Villaroger, panoramas of Montvalezan-La Rosi\u00e8re and S\u00e9ez, up to the Tignes dam<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Official inauguration:<\/strong> 12 June 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forty kilometres, eight hamlets crossed, two glaciers in the background and a breathtaking descent: welcome to La Fario, the new E-MTB route created by the Communaut\u00e9 de communes de Haute Tarentaise and Bike Solutions. We donned our helmets and tackled the descent with Louis Billot, an instructor, to test this<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":98035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[136],"tags":[65,327,383,572,581,139,322],"class_list":["post-98018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-loisirs","tag-a-la-une","tag-alpes-du-nord","tag-bourg-saint-maurice","tag-haute-tarentaise","tag-haute-tarentaise-2026","tag-loisirs","tag-tignes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98018"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98170,"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98018\/revisions\/98170"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petit-montagnard.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}