Saignelégier Climbs 2022

Three times down to the Doubs and three times back up onto the plateau: La Goule to Saignelégier, Soubey to Les Enfers, and Goumois to Le Noirmont. 69km, 1,692m, and only 2% left on the battery at the end.

The Franches-Montagnes plateau sits about 500m above the Doubs, and every road down to the river is a climb back up. On Wednesday 15 June 2022 I did three of them in one go. My note: "3 climbs today with only 2% left on the battery when I finished so almost had to close the ride early. It does not get any easier....."

The Doubs Below The Plateau

The Doubs is a big river: 453km from its source near Mouthe in the French Jura to the Saône, the tenth longest river in France. Upstream it forms the Swiss–French border, through the gorges below the Saut du Doubs, a 27m waterfall, and past Goumois and La Goule. Around Soubey it turns away from the border and runs through the canton of Jura for about 20km towards Saint-Ursanne before heading back into France. This ride touches it at three points: La Goule and Le Theusseret, where the old power stations are, Soubey, and Goumois.

The RideThree Climbs From Le NoirmontWednesday 15 June 2022

The route, from my GPS track. Green: Le Noirmont. Down to La Goule and up to Saignelégier; down to Soubey (white) and up to Les Enfers; down to Goumois and up to Le Noirmont. This ride on Strava →

69.1kmDistance

1,692mClimbing

989mHighest point

489mLowest point (Soubey)

3h 54mMoving time

10:10–15:07Out on the road (4h 56m)

17.6km/hAverage moving speed

59.2km/hTop speed

131 / 160Heart rate, average / max (bpm)

3,189Calories

3Climbs out of the Doubs

The BeastBike

How The Day Went

10:11 – 10:39

Down oneLe Noirmont → La Goule → Le Theusseret

10.5km973m → 514m

10:39 – 11:25

Climb oneLe Theusseret → Saignelégier

9.5km+465m4.9% average

11:28 – 11:49

StopSaignelégier

21 min

11:50 – 12:32

Down twoLes Pommerats → Les Enfers → Soubey

16km→ 491m

12:32 – 13:22

Climb twoSoubey → Chandolat → Les Enfers

9.5km+457m4.8% average

13:26 – 13:45

StopLa Plaine-Joux

19 min

13:45 – 14:21

Down threeGeneveries → Goumois → along the Doubs

11.4km→ 515m

14:21 – 15:06

Climb three→ La Goule → Le Noirmont

9.5km+428m4.5% average

La Goule And Climb One

Straight down from Le Noirmont at 10:11 to the Doubs at La Goule, where I stopped for photos of the lake above the dam at 10:23, and on downstream past Le Theusseret. Then climb one, 9.5km and 465m back up to Saignelégier at nearly 5%, and a stop in town at 11:28.

The concrete dam at La Goule with water spilling through, the green lake behind — 10:26: the dam at La Goule.

A stream tumbling down a narrow wooded gorge towards the Doubs — 10:27: a side stream coming down to the river.

An old rusty bicycle propped in a rock overhang beside the road — 10:42: someone's old bike, retired under a rock by the road.

Soubey And Climb Two

From Saignelégier the route goes north through Les Pommerats and Les Enfers and then all the way down to the Doubs at Soubey, the lowest point of the day at 491m, at 12:22. Soubey is a lovely spot: a green iron bridge over the river and flower boxes on the parapet. Then climb two, 9.5km and 457m back up through Chandolat to Les Enfers, and a long stop at La Plaine-Joux.

A green iron girder bridge carrying the road over the Doubs at Soubey — 12:24: the bridge at Soubey.

Red and purple flowers in a box on the bridge at Soubey, with the Doubs and wooded hills behind — 12:24: the view from the bridge.

The calm Doubs at Soubey reflecting trees and the hills — 12:25: the Doubs at Soubey.

Goumois And Climb Three

The third descent comes down through Geneveries to the river at Goumois at about 14:00, then follows the Doubs downstream to Creux du Gros Gipoux, and the last climb goes back up past La Goule to Le Noirmont: 9.5km and 428m. I finished at 15:07 with 69.1km, 1,692m and three climbs in the legs, and 2% on the battery.

The Doubs at Goumois with clear water over stones and houses on the bank — 14:00: the Doubs at Goumois.

The main street of Goumois with flower boxes on the bridge railings and houses beyond — 14:01: Goumois, by the border bridge.

A small weir on the Doubs with water spilling over, under overhanging trees and a rock face — 14:13: a weir on the Doubs below Goumois, at the start of the last climb.

Where It Is

Soubey (marker) at the north end of the loop, with Goumois, La Goule, Le Noirmont and Saignelégier to the south.