Col des Champs
If starting in Barcelonnette, this is the middle pass in
the classic
Allos -
Champs -
Cayolle loop,
in either direction. Here the ride has a more isolated
feel to it than on the other two passes.

|
01.(00.0km,1086m)
START-END WEST ALT: jct D52 - D908, northwest of
Thorame Haute
02.(12.0km,1264m) START-END WEST: profile turns
right after Colmars
03.(23.1km,2100m) aproximate high point before
pass
04.(23.4km,2087m) TOP: Col des Champs
05.(23.7km,2100m) aproximate high point after pass
06.(32.2km,1540m) turnoff to Pra Pelet on left
07.(39.6km,1041m) START-END EAST: profile turns
right onto D2202 in St Martin d'Entraunes
08.(43.8km,942m) Villeneuve d'Entraunes
09.(51.0km,787m) Guillaumes
10.(70.5km,528m) START-END EAST ALT: jct:
D902 - N202, west of Entrevaux |
Approaches
From East. After descending Col
de Cayolle, most first time cyclists look anxiousely for
a small turnoff to the right, just after the village of St
Martin d'Entraunes. The profile starts lower in the Vars
valley to maximize the elevation approach. I did not ride
this lower part.
Surprise the easy small, easy to miss turnoff leads to a
wide, well surfaced road. It climbs in regular ramps
connected by switchbacks through the trees. It's a peaceful
contrast after the exciting descend that came before on the
Col de Cayolle. During my ride I now saw quite a few
cyclists, coming the other way already, making a traversal
of the loop counterclockwise. Views between the trees
consisited of "airplane views" of the clustered
houses of St Martin below, and a large anthill like mountain
across the valley. The easily recognizable building on the
very top gradually became visible at eye level, confirming
the suspicion that I had gaining quite a bit of altitude.
After passing a picturesque group of houses on the hill
(either the village of Sussis or Le Mounard), the road
reaches a gentle ridge, and practically runs into a chapel,
also on the ridge. Could this be the pass ? Far from it,
this road has a much loftier goal. And the views get much
better also. The mountains to the south-west of the road
soon eclipse the valley.

The western descent of Col de Champs contains this ragged
group of tree,
before the road enters the forest
The pass itself is a grassy saddle, hence
the name "The Pass of Fields". It contrasts with
the dramatic, adjacent group of sky piercing peaks of the
Sommet de la Frema (2747m). Remaining distance and elevation
signs give the cyclist excact information how much work he
has left to do. The general large scale of the surrounding
landscape made it difficult to estimate how much effort was
left to reach the summit. When the sign said 5km remaining,
it was hard to believe. I thought I was practically on the
pass already. The road reaches a slightly higher altitude
before and after the pass. The official highest altitude of
the road is 2087m, that of the pass 2045m. The pass is
signed - no buildings otherwise.
From West. The road surface becomes
much worse at this point, and I was actually wondering if
the fact that I had my mountain bike with fat tires was
advantageous. The first few curves past the top are
especially interesting. The new viewshed comes into sight,
and the road is held in place by a much more temporary
looking construction, that what I had come to expect from
the civil engineering marvels of alpine passes. The road is
held in place by temporary looking embankments, and a
mountain creek crosses the road in a constructed drainage
crease. It contained still a consisiderable flow of water
during the beginning of June.

Sommet de la Frema, about 3 to 5 km before arriving at
summit of Col des Champs
After the descend enters the forest the
views disappear and the road remains rough. I met one
automobile on the entire descend. He appeared very
disgruntled. The village of Colmars has an old castle and a
medieval appearance. I am sure it would be worth a longer
look around. But now well into the Cayolle - Champs - Allos
loop, the length of this ride was becoming more apparent,
and it was time to continue riding hard. If coming from the
other direction this turnoff up the western side of Col des
Champs is easily missed. The elevation profile continues
lower all the way to the valley route followed by N202.
History
Cycling - Tour de France: These days
it may be hard to believe that once upon a time the Tour de
France crossed a road like this, or more specifically a road
surface like on the western approach. In 1975 the day's
route started in Nice and ended in the ski resort Praloup
near Barcelonette. The route also crossed Col
d'Allos. Belgian Eddy Merckx took the lead at the top,
but lost it by the end of the Tour.
A Dayride over
this pass as intermediate summit is on the Col
de Cayolle page.
The last pass ride with different start and end points on
this Extended Tour
is: Col
de Larche