A magnificent climb in the French Alps. A classic that has been climbed many times by the Tour de France. But above all, a first-class ordeal that gets steeper and more treacherous as it climbs to the top. It is a climb of almost 15 kilometers. You do it in a setting where you are forced to push yourself. This blast in the region Savoie Mont Blanc There must be one you’ve driven, right? We went up, down and enjoyed it like never before.
Text and photos: Sander Kolsloot
Samoëns as base camp
Our cycling holiday in France, a short four-day trip, begins every day in the French village of Samoëns. At the foot of the Joux Plane and at the foot of the Plateau des Saix. A wonderful base for exploring this famous region, which has hosted many stages of the Tour de France. It is filled with famous cols, climbs, and stunning views. If you’re going cycling in France, Samoens is a good place to start.
To reach the goal of the day, the Colombiere, we still have to climb a small section. We have to climb over the hill towards Cluses. That’s where the start of the climb to the Col de la Colombière is. By the way, you can also climb the Col de Romme here. That’s a real challenge in itself, so we’ll save that for later.
Start calmly
The road to the foot of the mountain is a bit of a bike ride, but it starts quite slowly. We drive over the D4 via Cellieres towards Chatillon sur Cluses. As the D4 turns into the D902, it is a bit of a struggle to keep going. It is a kind of highway up and the traffic is rushing past here. However, there is no logical alternative. We will tolerate that few kilometers. The climb to Chatillon is a nice warm-up.
Col de la Colombière
After the descent we come to Cluses where we see the signs for the ‘start of the col’. It’s a bit of a maneuver through the town, but then the road starts to climb. It’s initially a fairly flat route, but after you leave Scionzier you can’t get below five percent. At the roundabout on the road to Blanzy it gets really steep. Eight percent is the norm for the next four kilometers. You cycle up among the trees, with occasional beautiful views of the high alpine peaks all around you.
Take a break
With only ten kilometers left, the climb eases off a bit. You then come towards Le Reposoir and it’s a kind of plateau that only rises by a few percent. It’s lovely to catch your breath and gather courage for the final part. You could possibly also make a coffee and rest stop here. There’s a restaurant/café in the village. The view from there isn’t bad, I’ll admit.
On to the top
At Le Reposoir, where the top of the Col de Romme also starts, the climb begins again. A beautiful section of hairpin turns slowly leads you to an open plain, where you can see the top of the Col de la Colombière. That is also the treacherous part of this climb. You can see the top lying very far down. But because the last two or three kilometers get increasingly steeper, that top doesn’t seem to get any closer. The percentage drops below ten percent in those last few kilometers. That makes this climb a treacherous challenge. It’s definitely one that brings sweet after the bitter. That’s for sure!
Descending to Le Grand Bornand
The descent can be seen in all its beauty from the top. It’s a descent you can lick your fingers together. If you enjoy downhill skiing, make sure you don’t get stuck behind a car (like me). The beautiful winding road just begs to be attacked. It has to be said: this descent is relatively short and I’m sad when we’re already back in Le Grand Bornand.
Shed Café: a must-try
If you need a breather after the climb and descent in Le Grand Bornand, we have just one big tip. Shed Café. On the advice of our friends from Unpaved in Eys, we were directed here. That was not a punishment. Good coffee, delicious pastries, even for the vegan cyclists among us. Many things are homemade, and the terrace in the back offers plenty of opportunities to get fully into the rest of the experience. The only downside is the lack of bike parking. Therefore, it is still recommended, but the label Cycling Destination Approved, They need to work a little harder for that.
Back on the road
You can choose to go back up the climb in the opposite direction. Nice, but we choose the route through the valley over the D12. Enjoying the gasps of air through the valley, sometimes descending, but mostly just enjoying it. It’s a wonderful change from the constant climbing on the Colombière. Before we’re back in Samoëns, we have to go back over the ‘colletje’ that we passed over the first time. This time it feels heavier than the last time. It’s also now the middle of the day and the sun is doing its work. But who cares? With the beautiful mountains in the background, we’re having a great time. This is pure enjoyment.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.