Colle Sommeiller

The ascent of Colle Sommeiller begins on tarmac in Bardonecchia, following the valley towards Rochemolles before changing to gravel beyond the village. The reservoir and the approach to Rifugio Scarfiotti divide the journey into recognisable stages, with the road gradually drawing you deeper into the mountains. It is an ascent for a mountain bike, with the surface becoming as much a part of the effort as the gradient.

Above the refuge, successive hairpins lift the track towards the upper basins. Brief easier stretches break up the climbing around Pian dei Morti and Pian dei Frati, before the final rise towards the col. The surroundings grow increasingly bare and rocky, and the rougher upper track demands attention to the line beneath your wheels. Finishing close to 3,000 metres, Sommeiller offers the particular satisfaction of reaching high mountain country under your own power.