Doi Inthanon

Le Doi Inthanon est un col de 26.7 kilomètres. C'est un col de catégorie supérieure (HC). Il est situé à Ban Luang, Chiang Mai, Thaïlande. La pente moyenne de ce col est de 6.4% avec un maximum de 13.4%. Le Doi Inthanon monte de 675 mètres au départ à 2.426 mètres au sommet, pour un total de 1.750 mètres d'ascension.

Description

Every year more thenk 5,600 riders lined up to battle with the road to the highest point in Thailand, Doi Inthanon.

The event is called the Doi Inthanon Challenge (47km), an uphill race from the small northern Thai town of Chom Tong to the summit of Doi Inthanon, which at 2.595 meters tall is the highest point in all of Thailand. The road goes to just a couple of metres beneath the very top.

The climb starts off gently enough, but with a couple of short ramps early on things soon shatter in the field, leaving only the serious contenders at the head of affairs. Much of the route is tree shaded and runs through a canyon, which is part of the designated Doi Inthanon National Park, and this makes for a scenic sufferfest. Given the distance and altitude gain, it's easy to assume the gradient stays steady and friendly. But that's not entirely accurate as a couple of short downhills are thrown in, and numerous steep stretches too. As with so many big climbs the best, or worse, is saved for last, in the form of a killer few kilometres at grades touching 23 per cent. These pitches are positively brutal, especially at such a late stage of the ride, and at over 2,000 metres altitude.

The event takes place mid February each year, around 60km to the south of Chiang Mai, so be sure to add this one to your bucket list.

Cols Proches