This pass cuts across the very southern end of the Massif des
Bauges. When following a route in the valley of the Isere, it is
very easy to just bypass it by following the Maurienne River
instead. And so it makes a nice optional climb at the end of a
ride, because you never know exactly just how you are going to
feel then. In my case the weather was just too good, and the
next day was a rain day, so a long day in the saddle could be
followed by a day of rest.
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1.(280m,00.0km)START-END
EAST:jctD1006 - bike path, west of Montmelian
2.(958m,9.5km)TOP: Col de Marocaz
3.(665m,18.0km)profile turns left here, going straight
will descend into Chambery
4.(340m,23.3km)START-END WEST: jct D21-1006, south of
La Ravoire and Chambery
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 Approaches
From East. A cyclist, who I asked for
directions, told me that this was the most difficult climb in
the area immediately south of Chambery. It is definitely steeper
than the western to the same pass. The lowest point on this side
is somewhere next to the straightened Maurienne River. A number
of small roads lead up to a higher more pleasant traverse
through Arbin and St Laurent. The profile takes one of these
little paths.
The road exits a short, narrow traverse of the village between
house walls, that form a slot canyon of the ancient village
variety. Now the sheer cliffs of the Chartreuse Plateau come
into view in the distance. At the same time the highest white
capped peaks of the Belledonne range, slowly creep above the
foothills of the green Hurtiere on the opposite side. The road
disappears into the forest, and the slope does not let up even
for the switchbacks. Soon what appears to be the summit comes
into sight, and the road progresses towards it in a roundabout
way with many switchbacks. But this visible summit is quite a
bit higher than the one the road is heading for. What looks like
the goal is in reality in the Col du
Lindar several hundred meters higher. The summit of Col
Marocaz suddenly shows up behind a curve as a complete surprise.
At the summit an unpaved road keeps climbing. It leads over an
unpaved fairly rough path to the top of Col
du Lindar
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From West. (described downwards). This side is
gentler, mostly inside a low valley, and there are no far views
until the lower section. A possible short detour takes in the
lake at La Thuile. But the profile takes the direct way down
into Challes-les-Eaux. During the lower descent triangular,
massive limestone outcrops seem to float through the field of
view en masse, while turning the bike in a flurry of curves down
to Challes-les-Eaux. Here the roundabout marks a definite
boundary between suburban traffic of Chambery, and the more
isolated mountain roads, where we just came from. An alternate
descent over Curienne leads directly into Chambery.
A Dayride with this point as intermediate summit is on
page: Col du Grand Cucheron
History: 1900 is an important date in the history of
this pass. In this year the French military built the Pont de
Crouzat (the bridge in the narrow part of the eastern approach),
so that the farmers of Cruet and La Thuile could use the pass
more easily. However it never became popular. It may have been
an easier path, but it added distance to their habitual paths
(according to a local resident).
Cycling: The pass has been on the Tour de France route
twice. In 1954 the stage lead from Briancon to Aix les Bains,
then in 1974 from Aix les Bains to Serre-Chevalier.
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