Col de Tréchauffe, Col du Grand Taillet and Col de Corbier

This is another beautiful circuit. Just South of Thonon-les-Bains – the route starts on a tiny side road near the beginning of the Route des Grandes Alpes (that goes all the way to the Mediterranean).

It’s a wonderful climb up the side of a steep mountain on a very quiet road to the Col du Grand Taillet. Don’t celebrate too quickly, because at the Col there is a little side road up to the lookout at Tréchauffe.

My cycling book calls the Belvedere de Tréchauffe one of the most beautiful in Europe. You can see most of Lake Geneva in the distance, although sadly it was a bit smoggy down low

The book forgets to mention that a quick descent on a tiny road brings you to the savage Col de Tréchauffe. On the way up to Tréchauffe I bumped into a Chamoix – sort of a deer. We eyed each other for a while and then went our separate ways. Note, the last 2 kilometres to Tréchauffe was under snow – luckily I had my hybrid.

The route then descends into the Abondance valley. After a little flat bit, it then climbs the Col de Corbier – there is a little ski station at the top. Then back down the other side.