Difficulty: / 5

Scenery:   / 5

The climb:
        Distance:  15 kms
        Vertical:     980 metres

Last Climbed:  May 2006

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BEAUFORT 

Col des Saisies will be in the 2006 Tour de France on the last huge mountain day - ending in Morzine.  The ride starts in Beaufort (famous for its cheese). This little valley is hard to get to … even the main road is a narrow winding affair. 

Beaufort is a cycling mecca — and is at the base of at least six great cols and endless variations.  My climb bible had six ways up Col des Saisies alone.  Although 3 of the big climbs are still closed due to snow.  For my route I chose the classic route up Route D218b.

As the snow melts the there were cascades everywhere along the ride. 

Great views and a WW2 memorial at the top commemorating the Parachuting in of huge weapons supplies to the French resistance at the Col itself.

3d Map

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