Author: Will

No-one does tiny, high-altitude paved roads like the Swiss.

Ovronnaz is a little ski station in the Valais region of Switzerland that has featured recently in the Tour de Suisse. It’s a beautiful and steep 10 kilometre climb. Vineyards down low, south facing for plenty of sun on a cool November day, and dozens of amazing hairpins:

Looking for a 2013 calendar that features some of the most famous cycling climbs in France, Italy, and Switzerland? Here are two to choose from.

Col de la Madeleine is one of the very toughest climbs in France. Here’s a third, super tough, but less famous way up. Plus a fun detour.

Whenever Verbier appears in a Tour de Suisse or Tour de France stage I predictably complain that the best part of the climb is above the village/finish.

Sanetsch is one of the biggest, most beautiful climbs that you may not have heard of.

Just south-west of Grenoble, the Vercors massif must be one of the most interesting places to cycle in France.

Woooohoooo. I’d had been feeling relatively fit, so I decided to try something a little crazy as the season winds down.

I like to consider myself a fairly good “Col Hunter.” But my friend Bastien is a true expert.

I had never cycled the steep roads to Chalets de Bise and Refuge d’Ubine. And there is nothing better than doing a a couple of climbs for the first time and being pleasantly surprised.