Day 12. Espalion to Millau

Beau Regard
From today I left the France en Vélo route to head south, crossing the plateau of the Grandes Causses to get to Millau. I spent a while looking at various possible routes to find one that avoided most main roads, even if it involved climbing up to 1000 metres. 
 
I had noticed another voie verte on an old railway track from Espalion which led up to the plateau, and my hosts recommended me to take this as the main road was tres dangereuse with beaucoup de camions.  It was a beautifully engineered route, climbing for 6 km at a steady 3% gradient with a big viaduct, deep cuttings and a 600 m long tunnel, fortunately equipped with lighting from solar panels. There was no tarmac this time, but the gravel was not too rough apart from one very stony section where I to get off and walk for a while.

I left the railway track by the small village of Banc and then followed minor roads, with a brief pause to watch the numerous raptors (buzzards, red kites and various unidentified eagles) circling overhead, to reach Laissac and a stop for coffee and supplies. 

Now for the main part of the climb, easily at first to the village of Sévérac l’Eglise at 650 m altitude and then much more steeply for 10 km up to the top of the plateau at 1015 m.  According the the chart in the MapMyRide App there were gradients of around 10% which required a few rests but no more GOAPs were needed. 

Today's profile in MapMyRide

The highest point of the trip at just over 1000 m

There was a sign at the top saying Beau Regard and the view was indeed rather fine. I messed around on the top trying to get some photos and then continued down a long gentle downhill past Vézins to a main road which fortunately had little traffic.  This soon crossed the motorway and then gave a fantastic fast descent – smooth wide road, no sharp bends and a great view in front down to the Tarn valley. Down in the valley at Aguessac I crossed the Tarn (the last of the five major rivers) to take a minor road on the east bank into Milllau and my hotel right in the centre of town.

Downhill all the way from here.

Not many cars to share the road with.

The descent to the Tarn valley.

Distance today - 77 km (and 1175 m of ascent)       
Distance from St Malo - 981 km