Col des Annes & Col de la Colombière
By Will • Jun 17th, 2009 • Category: Climbs, CyclingCyclo-tourists coming to the Alps understandably flock to the Route des Grandes Alpes to do the famous Tour de France climbs.
But there are countless lessor known climbs that are as beautiful, much quieter, and often very challenging.
Col des Annes begins just off the Route des Grandes Alpes near Le Grand Bornand. I first saw this road while skiing in Le Grand Bornand – I made a mental note to return with a bike.
It climbs through beautiful alpine pastures and is steep – look at the grade chart. I’d estimate the last 300 yards averages 15%. After struggling to the top – and shocking myself on the electric fence by the Col sign (!!) – I took a quick detour on the path below to Col de Borneronde (see map).
You can cycle up to Col des Annes with a road bike. But the other side to Reposoir is a steep hiking trail. I pushed/carried most of the way.
The descent along the trail was hard work, but beautiful. Well worth the adventure.
After passing the Chartreuse Abbey, I emerged in Reposoir and joined the main road to do the top half of Col de la Colombière. Always beautiful, always hard work, and always, always into the wind! 
Col de la Colombiere will again be in the Tour de France in 2009. But will take the super difficult route via Col de Romme – see here for details
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2013 Challenge is to cycle a 150 Cols (mountain passes), slowly -- and to just enjoy.
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Bravo, beaux pourcentages pour le Col des Annes
Looking at the profile and knowing what Col de la Colombière is like in reality, I must say that Col des Annes looks pretty impressive! Good job!
[...] Col des Annes is a little know, beautiful, and very steep climb starting from Le Grand Bornand – the last 300 metres must be 14-15%.. The road ends at the Col – although I did – for some unknown reason – carry my bike down the trails on the other side last year. [...]
Hi Will! One question: I note that it is it possible to go to Col des Annes with the road bike. Is it also the case for Col de Borneronde? Kind regards,
Nicholas
Hi Nicholas,
No, it’s a good quality gravel farm road to Borneronde – which then continues into the mounatins becoming very steep (too steep to cycle). Fine on my hybrid to Borneronde, but no good on a road bike
You can see the road to Borneronde in the big photo above of the Col des Annes sign
Regards
[...] and quiet, surrounded by the Aravis alps. The top is a dead end – although I did once take carry a bike down the other side to Reposoir to make a loop with Col de la Colombière. But it’s not something I [...]