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Mont du Chat – Col du Chat Loop

By • Jul 12th, 2009 • Category: Climbs, Cycling, Juras

Le cycle magazine once called this possibly the most difficult climb in France. Maybe an exaggeration, but wow, this is difficult stuff, especially in the heat/humidity.

This is a great, quiet loop. Returning via Col du Chat, while only 638 metres, leads to fantastic views high above Lac du Bourget.

Mont du Chat


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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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9 Responses »

  1. EricEric on July 13th, 2009 at 10:57 pm:

    I guess today was as warm/hot and humid as when we did Grand Colombier-Biche, but then (luckily) without the rain at the end. Looks like your week in Italy as not gotten you tired, rather the opposite.

  2. Mark PozziMark Pozzi on July 14th, 2009 at 9:05 am:

    Hi Will, you refer often to Le cycle magazines Top CLimbs, how do we obtain a copy. Regards Mark

  3. WillWill on July 14th, 2009 at 11:22 am:

    Hi Mark

    Le Cycle magazine is a very good French cycling magazine. Every issue they feature a big Col. Currently, they have a great “special edition” profiling the the most beautiful routes in France”

    Web site is pretty sparse. They used to sell old issues but the link seems broken. The “30 most beautiful climbs” was a special edition in 2005. Perhaps sending them an email via the contact form would work.

    http://www.lecycle.com/

  4. StephenStephen on July 16th, 2009 at 3:00 pm:

    I’ve done both climbs for several years running now. Some say that the Belvedere du Mont du Chat is the hardest short climb in the French Alps. In fact, Chambery and environs has to be the best cycling spot on earth. Parc Du Chartreuse, Parc des Bauges, Lac du Bourget, Mt. du Chat, an the Verde Route through Chambery make this place ideal.

  5. Denis JouglardDenis Jouglard on July 19th, 2009 at 7:09 pm:

    Just done mont du chat today,the steepest climb in the french alps,in the same region you can as well try the col du Granier from Chapareillan not bad as well!If you like steepness there is as well the climb to Chamrousse from Sechilienne through col Luitel,and if you cycle near Grenoble you can cycle up to the Bastille hill(you might tear your handlebars on that short one)

  6. WillWill on July 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pm:

    Stephen – agreed. Great location.

    Denis – merci beaucoup pour les idées ;)

  7. HywelHywel on August 14th, 2009 at 5:19 pm:

    Awesome climb, on your recommendation i cycled from Annecy over the Semnoz down to Aix Les Bains and up Mont Du Chat. Fantastic challenge and a real lung buster. Took in Le Revard on the way home for good measure.

  8. Col Hunting Near Lac d’Aiguebelette : Cycling ChallengeCol Hunting Near Lac d’Aiguebelette : Cycling Challenge on February 5th, 2011 at 3:20 pm:

    [...] Col du Blanchet, Col de la Crusille, Col de la Lattaz, and Col du Mont Tournier are all along a smaller mountain ridge just to the west of the giant climb up Mont du Chat. [...]

  9. Relais du Mont du Chat : Cycling ChallengeRelais du Mont du Chat : Cycling Challenge on April 19th, 2011 at 7:29 pm:

    [...] great Relais du Mont du Chat loop, you can return by the very scenic but very hard Col du Chat. See here. Tagged as: bourget, Cycling, France, lievres, mont du chat, relais du [...]

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