Plaine Joux is a cross-country ski center high above Sallanches. It’s also a very popular “take-off” spot for parapenters (see photo above).

It’s a very nice climb with plenty of hairpins – quiet, but busier on weekends than weekdays as it’s a hiker/alpine tourist destination. The best part is without a doubt the views of Mont Blanc and surrounding mountains.

With 800+ metres of ascent, it’s a good size climb but not too difficult. Some steeps parts, a flat part, even a brief downhill in the middle – but it’s generally roughly 7%. Note, the way I descended seemed to be far steeper than the way I climbed (see map at bottom).

Don’t confuse this Plaine Joux with the Plaine Joux in the Vallée Verte or the legendary Col de Joux Plane. Joux is an an ancient French word for alpine forest.

After descending and crossing the valley, I visited for the first time, the famous Côte de Domancy. In 1980, Bernard Hinault won the World Championships here. It’s only 2.5 kilometres but at times very steep — Bernard had to climb it several times. At the top, one can continue left on the main road up to Megève and into the Aravis Alps, but I turned right and called it a day.

Little monument at start of Côte de Domancy commemorating Hinault’s victory:

Plaine Joux and Domancy

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It is still too early for the high Alps roads to be open. But I thought I’d climb some beautiful roads and see how high I could get. A fun snow ride

Cormet de Roselend is one of the more scenic climbs on the Route des Grandes Alpes. I knew it was closed, but the climb to Col du Meraillet and the Lac (and dam) de Roselend was open.

There was some sort of bizarre car rally down in Beaufort and surrounding area, but my route was near deserted. I’d never been up here with this much snow around, and even with the low lake water levels, it was still absolutely beautiful.

I cycled around the lake in the off-chance that I could get up to the summit of Cormet de Roselend, but 5 kms from summit I bumped into this snow wall covering the road:

For details of both sides of Cormet de Roselend – see here. It should open by end May.

Next I descended down to Beaufort with the idea of visiting the smaller Lac (and dam) de St Guérin – details here. However, a couple of kms below the dam, I ran into uncleared roads, too snowy. So instead I turned up a gravel (south-facing) road labeled “Col du Pré 6kms.”

I had already passed the turn off to the paved route to Col du Pré — it was marked as closed. But I had no other ideas.

Note, the Col du Pré profile above is for the paved version. It is a steep, and fabulous “long-cut” to Cormet de Rolselend – crossing the Roselend dam. Highly recommended for stronger, or (like me) patient cyclists. Details here. The views above the dam or about as good as it gets.

The gravel road continued up past a couple of chalets, then descended briefly and joined the paved route to Col du Pré. Such a fun route, although I didn’t expect to reach the summit.

However, despite a few snowy sections shaded by trees, I made better progress than I expected. Finally, I ran into unride-able snow. But only half a kilometre from the Col.

I carried my bike to get the Col sign photo (see small photo near top) – and … saw four post-season snow boarders sliding out of the woods.

We were all a little crazy …. but they had to walk most of the way down …. I had a bike.

This ride was worth the effort of visiting a beautiful region — even with full knowledge that the featured climb to Cormet de Roselend would be impossible.

Col du Meraillet and Col du Pré

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Many of the most famous climbs in the alps have days where they are closed to motor traffic, reserved for cyclists. Nice.

First, let’s be clear about these car-free days:

1) They are NOT cyclosportives or races.
2) There is no need to register, and they are free. Show up, start when you want.
3) There is a mix of cyclists of all levels, ages, sizes. Most riding leisurely.
4) The ambience is great. Everyone is in a good mood.
5) There is usually a free drink and snack stand or two.
6) Usually it’s surprisingly uncrowded (but then these are big roads).
7) Check details: Usually only the morning and sometimes only the top half of climbs.

Here is a 2013 list of “Cols reservés,” car-free days. I’d be grateful for any comments indicating other car-free days.

Savoie-Mont Blanc Region

6/16: Relais du Mont du Chat – Really, really, (really) hard. Ask Merckx, dropped here.
6/22: Cormet de Roselend (both sides) – Stunning Alpine Lake.
6/23: Col des Aravis (south side) – free cheese on last hairpin again?
6/29: Mont Salève – I live here. Steep. middle 4 kms avg 12.5%!
7/4: Col du Galibier – both sides. The grand-daddy of them all.
7/6: Col des Glières: (Thorens side) – Home of the French National Monument de la Resistance.
7/7: Col de l’Iseran (both sides) – highest paved pass in Europe.
7/12: Col de Pierre Carrée – highest pass in north alps open all winter.
7/28: Col de Joux Plane (both sides) – Armstrong bonked here, me too.
8/2: Col du Glandon – Last 3 kms are hairpin heaven.
8/16: Col de la Croix de Fer – East side. Obligatory Iron Cross photo here.
8/18: Col de la Ramaz – Featured in 2010 Tour de France
8/22: Col de la Madeleine (both sides) — Tough and tough.
8/24: Cols du Champlaurent et du Grand Cucheron: Cucheron is in 2013 TdF.

Hautes Alpes

Organized as two week long events, ride all five in week and get a free event cycling jersey. Nice. Perfect for a week long tranquil vacation in a beautiful region.

7/1: Col Agnel – French side. Huge and high climb.
7/2: Col d’Izoard – both sides. The land of Coppi and Bobet.
7/3: Col de l’Echelle – “Secret” entry into Italy.
7/4: Col du Galibier – Same as in Mont Blanc / Savoie list. Politicians work together?
7/5: Col du Granon – 2nd highest finish in TdF history

I have cycled none of the climbs in the second week. Trying to convince my wife that this is a better vacation option than all her (great) ideas.

8/12: Col de Pommerol / Fromagère
8/13: Montée de Chabre
8/14: Col d’Espréaux
8/15: Mont Colombis – Supposed to be superb.
8/16: Col du Noyer – On Le Cycle magazine’s list of top 50 most beautiful climbs.

Miscellaneous:

Col des Allos – south side – is closed every Friday morning throughout the summer.

If there, make sure you descend the – even better – north side.

Italy:

6/23 and 9/15: Sella Ronda Bike Day – Four high altitide Italian passes circle one of the most scenic places on earth.

Very cool event: the 55 kilometres loop is entirely closed to traffic as well as several of the top stretches of arterial roads leading up to the loop.

8/31: Stelvio – (west and east sides). Yes, Stelvio:

Switzerland

9/1: Albulapass – Beautiful, high climb in eastern Switzerland.

A Final Word

Motorized traffic isn’t that bad on most of the big alpine climbs. And there are plenty of near deserted, fantastic routes to the well informed cyclotourist. Please don’t avoid any of these climbs because you can’t make it on a traffic-free day. They are all perfectly awesome even with cars.

Still, many of these climbs are only open 4 or 5 months a year, and (especially in August) tourists and motorcyclists flock to the most famous of these roads. Cycling the most beautiful roads in Europe without the hassle is just a better.

A highlight of 2012: Descending the south side of Col de l’Iseran – the highest paved pass in Europe. I reach the bottom and see a barrier with perhaps 100 frustrated motorcyclists and cars behind it – cue my evil laughter. They would have to wait for another 2 hours, while I turned around and climbed back up one of my very favourites cols …. in perfect silence.

Having a beer at the top of Col de l’Iseran. No cars in sight:

My wife chasing QOMs on 2012 Col des Glières car-free day:

Free cheese during 2012 car-free day on last hairpin of Col des Aravis:

Cycle the Alps Traffic-Free: Here’s How (2013 Edition)

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Starting from Annecy, the majority of this loop is on the very nice (and virtually flat) Annecy bike path – with two quiet, attractive little climbs in the middle – both under some fairly big mountains.

Col du Vorger is a perfect shortcut to Col de Tamié that avoids entering Abertville. 4 kms, roughly 8%, plenty of hairpins, nice views, quiet. Nice.

This was my first time climbing the south side of Col de Tamié. There are two principle ways up this side — I took the quieter of the two – primarily on the D104. The road in fact climbs to the Collet de Tamié at 955 metres and then descends to the Col de Tamié (907 metres).

For details of the easier but very worthwhile north side of Col de Tamié see here.

Col de Tamié will be the third climb during the gigantic stage 19 of the 2013 Tour de France. The summit is quite a good choice as a viewing spot as one could visit the 19th century Fort de Tamié and enjoy its dominating views of the valley below, and/or visit the lovely Cistercian (Trappist) Abbaye de Tamié (11th century) – nicely perched a little north of the Col. Both the Abbaye and the Fort are marked on the map above.

Construction of Fort de Tamié began in 1872 after the humiliating French defeat to the Germans in 1870. Designed to protect against an Italian invasion, it was built almost entirely by Italian workers. It never saw action.

Abbaye de Tamié is famous for its cheese:

It was fun to do a little more *flat* riding than usual on a lovely and car-free bike path, yet still get in a couple of Cols. A very nice route.

Col du Vorger, Col de Tamié, and the Annecy Bike Path

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Usually the road up to Col de la Croix is closed until late May but it had been ploughed in preparation for next weeks Tour de Romandie stage race. The Romandie “queen” stage will climb both sides on April 27th.

So warm weather, snow walls, and big mountains made for some dream cycling.

Diablerets will be a beautiful place for a stage finish:

As the map below shows, I started in beautiful Aigle, climbed to Diablerets ski station, then up to Col du Pillon, back to Diablerets, then up to Col de la Croix, then down to Aigle.

But for completeness, I have provided 4 profiles below (all great climbs):

1. Aigle to Col du Pillon
2. Aigle to Diablerets, then north side of Col de la Croix
3. from Ollon up south side of Col de la Croix
4. from Bex up south side of Col de la Croix

The other side of Col du Pillon is the second of three climbs in the Gruyère Cycling Tour – details here.

It truly is a breath-taking place to bike:

As part of one of the nine Swiss National Cycling routes it had signs warning of big climbs ahead (bad math):

Climbing the south side of Col de la Croix I followed a snow plough doing some finishing touches:

Romandie will climb both the north side of of Col de la Croix (from Diablerets) and the south side (from Bex). If you get the chance, it will be a fun place to watch a pro peloton pass twice. I *might* be there.

For some great Mountain Biking that includes Col de la Croix see here.

Col du Pillon and Col de la Croix

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At 21 kilometres, this climb is a similar length to legendary French climbs like Mont Ventoux, Col du Glandon, and Col de la Madeleine. But it has a couple hundred metres or so less ascent and thus is perhaps 1% less in average steepness.

This makes it a fabulous test climb for anyone new to big alps cycling. Long, beautiful but a little easier than some very famous stuff.

There was still a little summer skiing up high, and as usual there is some traffic (not much) on the first half of the climb to Les Carroz. The second half is very quiet. It’s a pleasure to climb and always fun to cycle under an active ski lift (see video below).

At the summit is a little perched golf course that doubles as very scenic cross-country skiing in winter (small photo above). It’s worth going over the col and down the 4 or 5 kilometres to Flaine village – where the road ends. Nice hairpins and superb views.

For some fantastic summer mountain biking even higher – see here

Here is a video from a couple years ago of me descending here:

Col de Pierre Carrée (Flaine Ski Station)

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A beautiful April day – there may still be skiing at Alpe d’Huez – but the cycling wasn’t bad either.

Not fast, but my personal best climbing Alpe d’Huez. I beat my last Marmotte

ascension by more than 20 minutes – more a sign of how much I was bonking that day than any speed today.

The perfectly surfaced and very wide road was very quiet. A few cyclists – as usual at least half of them Dutch.

The early hairpins are the toughest:

After descending the Alpe, I went to see if the little road to Oulles was open. It was, and what a treat! This little known gem-of-a-climb starts just few couple of kilometres from Bourg d’Oisans.

Oulles is the commune with the lowest population (12!) in the Isère Department. 8 kilometres cut into the edge of a steep gorge up to a little perched village. It’s a well surfaced road, with hairpins galore. And quiet: I saw no cars on the ascent or the descent.

It’s quite steep, and I was slow and April-tired, but thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Lower Hairpins:

Upper section:

Village at snow line:

Hairpins galore:

Finally, after descending Oulles, I turned up to (slowly) visit Col d’Ornon. It’s a nice easyish climb … good testing ground for cyclostourists a little imtimidated by Alpe d’Huez.

A great route — and if you take one thing from this post: Go and cycle Oulles!

Alpe d’Huez, Oulles, and Col d’Ornon

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This 15 kilometre climb starts in Séchilienne – just off the busy road between Grenoble and Bourg d’Oisans. But this route is entirely on scenic, quiet roads.

Almost the entire climb is through woods. Lots of hairpins, and the occasional great view below. At the summit is the small ski station of L’Alpe du Grand Serre. Highly enjoyable climb.

The road then descends into an alpine valley surrounded by high mountains and then climbs out of the valley via Col de Malissol.

Next I followed quiet roads to Laffrey.

The Côte de Laffrey is the very steep 6 kilometre stretch of road from Laffrey to the valley below. It is one of the most dangerous roads in France with a long history of nasty accidents.

You do not want to descend or climb this road on a bike.

After Malissol I followed signed bike-friendly roads to Laffrey (staying on the right side of the lakes versus the busy main road on the left).

Exactly at the exit of Laffrey, I skipped the above mentioned Côte de Laffrey and instead took a lovely, deserted road down back to Séchilienne (it is signed for bikes).

This is a fantastic loop. It can be easy to find one self on busier roads in this area …. so I’d suggest following my mapped route — (note, the very first kilometre I got a little lost – just start out on the D13 following signs to L’Alpe de Grand Serre).

Col de la Morte and Col de Malissol

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It has been the coldest, snowiest winter I remember since arriving in Europe.

I had hoped for more sun, but I had an itch to scratch: Col de la Croix Fry is one of my favourite winter climbs. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and always well cleared. It’s a stunning place.

For a more challenging way up Croix Fry add the steep, beautiful, and very quiet Col de Plan Bois – see here.

I’ve posted this ride several times before, so I will just post some photos.

Just above Manigod – half way up to Col de la Croix Fry, is one of my favourite cycling views. Today was not my best pic at this location ….. I have been taking a photo at this exact spot for years.

Today:

After reaching Col de la Croix Fry, I descended down towards La Clusaz, joining the Route des Grandes Alpes for the last few kms up to Col des Aravis. There were some fantastic snow walls (top photo and below).

After descending and climbing back to Col de la Croix Fry, I turned off for a quick and easy detour to the dead-end at Col de Merdassier (see map below). Finally, a cup of coffee to defrost before surviving the very cold descent back to the start at Thônes.

I can’t recommend this ride enough – especially early in the season to better enjoy the huge snow-covered peaks nearby.

For details on the tougher south side of Col des Aravis – see here.

Snow Ride: Col de la Croix Fry & Col des Aravis

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It’s been a cold, snow-filled, fantastic winter so far. And while I have a fairly good track record of doing freezing, icy, snowy, silly winter cycling climbs …. this winter I decided to focus on cross country skiing for a while.

I purchased a Rhône-Alpes Region Nordic Skiing Season Pass and it has been getting good use (link to the official Rhône-Alps Nordic Skiing web site and all 83 locations).

Here are seven cycling climbs with great skate-skiing in winter – all within an hour of Geneva (see map below for locations). Feel free to suggest any I may have forgotten.

1. Plateau des Glières

My favourite location. Two challenging black / red routes surrounded by mountains and next to the Monument National de la Resistance.

It’s a great cycling climb (both sides) – see here.

2. La Vattay (Jura Mountains)

More than 100 kms of trails at all difficulty levels. Half the trails on a high, beautiful plateau, and the other half through mountain forests – leading to a fabulous Mont Blanc lookout.

La Vattay is near Col de la Faucille, but the trails pass a little known, very challenging climb: Col de la Vattay (also known as Col de Combe Blanche). Cycling details here.

3. Plateau Beauregard

See photo at top of page. Starting at Col de la Croix Fry, this medium size centre has a few short greens, blues, reds, and blacks — with stunning views of the Aravis Alps:

Col de la Croix Fry is one of my very favourite winter cycling climbs, details here.

4. Mont Revard

With more than 150 kilometres of trails, Savoie Grand Revard nordic ski centre is huge. It has plenty of trails of all difficulties – almost endless challenges.

High above Lac du Bourget, Mont Revard will also appear in the 2013 Tour de France. Climb details here and here.

5. Le Confins

A few kilometres above La Clusaz ski station in the Aravis alps is the well situated Les Confins nordic ski centre. Take the black trail up to some fabulous views (above). Les Confins also has a very difficult trail linking it to Le Grand Bornand which has a biathlon track.

Col des Confins is a steepish 6 km cycling climb that can be combined with some of its more famous neighbours such as Col de la Colombière, Col des Aravis or — see here — Col de la Croix Fry.

6. Plateau de Retord

In the Jura mountains above Bellegarde, Plateau de Retord has more than 100 kms of trails of all difficulty levels.

The main entrance is at Col du Cuvéry, a medium sized, quiet cycling climb that can be combined with other nearby cols for some fantastic cycling. Examples here.

7. Praz de lys

Praz de Lys ski station has cross country ski trails that allow skate-skiing up to Col de la Ramaz from either side (Sommand or Savolière). Surrounded by high mountains, it is a perfect location.

Col de la Ramaz is a challenging cycling climb from either side. The west side appeared in the 2011 Tour de France.

View Cross Country Skiing Near Geneva in a larger map

Seven Cycling Climbs with Great Skate-Skiing in Winter

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