CyclingHardBoucle

5 - On Romain's roads

Start: Office de tourisme de Brioude Sud Auvergne

A difficult circuit because of its distance and the many climbs in succession, it is for experienced riders only. It will let you discover a large part of the north-west of Haute-Loire, notably the Alagnon river near the village of Blesle, listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France (the Most Beautiful Villages of France).

Distance: 135 km
Elevation gain: +2543 m
Elevation loss: -2542 m
Duration: 6 h

Route on the map

Base map © OpenTopoMap (CC-BY-SA): route licensed under ETALAB-2.0 via Données : Comité Départemental Randonnée Pédestre Haute-Loire · FFRandonnée · sportsnature.hauteloire.fr — sous licence ETALAB 2.0.

The route in detail

Set off from the Centre Historique car park towards Lamothe. Go past the Limagne roundabout then over the Pont de Lamothe and turn left towards Lamothe. At the entrance to the village turn right towards Champagnac le Vieux, then turn right 1 km later towards Chaniat

Go through the village of Chaniat and continue on the main road (D126) to the junction with the D 56.

Turn right onto the D 56 and go down to La Vernède. Careful, the descent is partly dangerous.

At La Vernède, turn right towards Javaugues, on the D19.

After the village of Javaugues, turn left towards Frugières le Pin. Cross the Chariol then turn left onto the D20 to the entrance of Paulhaguet, then the D4 and at the fire station turn right to Le Marcet.

At Le Marcet, turn right onto the N102 for 300 metres (take care), then left towards Salzuit. Follow the D413 then turn left onto the D41 towards Lavoûte-Chilhac

Follow the D4 to Lavoûte-Chilhac

At Lavoûte-Chilhac, cross the bridge over the Allier, turn right onto the D585 for 9 km via Villeneuve d'Allier

In the village of La Vialette, turn left up the climb to Jazindes (D171). The climb is fairly hard, with a section of more than 8%. Then go back down to the village of Saint-Just-près-Brioude. Descent partly dangerous.

At Saint-Just-près-Brioude, go straight on at the crossroads onto the D171 to the village of Talairat.

At Talairat, turn right onto the D12, then left onto the D 171 towards Saint-Beauzire. Cross the RD 588 (be vigilant). Follow the D17 to the village of Batuzat then turn left and follow the road to La Vialette then Le Bos Bomparent. Continue along the road, then cross the D588 (be careful) to the village of Saint-Beauzire.

Turn left and follow the road to the stop sign. At the stop sign, turn right towards Lubilhac. Climb of more than 6% for 2.5 km.

Follow the D17 then the D321 towards Massiac. On arriving at Massiac, turn right then right again onto the D 909 towards Clermont-Ferrand. On leaving Massiac, continue on the D 909. You will pass close to Grenier-Montgon and Blesle.

At the place called Lanau, turn right towards Léotoing. Careful, hard climb up to the village. There, follow the D655. At the junction with the D653, go straight on at the stop sign then go through the villages of Recoules and Besse

At Besse, turn right straight away, then left and right again, go under the A 75 motorway and carry straight on.

At Gizac, go straight on at the stop sign towards St Géron, go past the bottling plant for the waters of the same name and climb up to the village. Careful: short but hard climb with a section of more than 12%. Turn left at the top.

After the cemetery, turn left at the stop sign onto the D19. Follow it to Brioude, passing through the villages of La Roche and Lauriat.

Go past Brioude station and, at the give-way line, continue towards Clermont Ferrand then, at the roundabout, turn right, go past the cemetery then take the third right, avenue Pierre Mendes France, go past the sports hall and at the roundabout turn right straight away to return to the Centre-Historique car park