THE REGION OF THE THREE VALLEYS IS TRYING TO CONVINCE BIKE LOVERS.
When you talk about cycling in the French Alps, you tend to immediately think of the Alp d’Huez, the Galibier Telegraph and the Glandon, and places like Le Bourg D’oisans or Valloire, but anyone who has watched the 2023 Tour de France and the 17e Etappe voor de geest haalt weet now that the Col de la Loze is a mountain to be reckoned with. Located between Courchevel and Meribel, this challenging climb is one that Pogacar has been working on hard. We (Sjoerd van Bemmelen and Dennis Knuist) know how that felt now too. At the invitation of Méribel We came all the way here, a 10-hour drive from the Netherlands. Our reception by Marie was very warm and welcoming. She immediately made all the information available to us and gave us all kinds of tips for a great stay! We’re looking forward to it. Do you want to join us?
FROM SKI TO BIKE PLACE
The places and Méribel Courchevel is especially known among winter sports enthusiasts for its beautiful and challenging slopes, but since the tour visited here for the 2nd time, they have been working hard to win the hearts of many cycling enthusiasts.
COL DE LA LOZE is the attraction for the public
Of Col de la Loze It is officially 10.1 km long and has an average gradient of 8.6% with peaks of 13, 15 and even 20.9%. It is a monster of a climb, in the truest sense of the word. It is a crowd-puller, but you don’t get any rhythm for a moment and the last 300 meters are like riding straight up. The last seven kilometers are car-free and that’s very nice to cycle and once you’re up there, there’s the serene tranquility of magical mountain peaks, a clear blue lake and Mont Blanc as a backdrop.
OUR STAY
We are staying in Méribel Mottaret, one of the highest-located ski villages in France (1750m). Our apartment is on the 1st floor.e floor of a large complex and offers space for 2 people and our bicycles. It is fully equipped for a carefree stay. There are shops and a supermarket right around the corner, so we are well-equipped. We are here at the invitation of Méribel to participate in The escape from the Col de la Loze a two-day cycling event consisting of a race and a time trial uphill. Nobody else but Thomas Voeckler is our host these days.
Enjoying in the village
On the first evening we were invited to have dinner at a restaurant. LE80, a quite hip place right at the beginning of the main shopping street. Many types of burgers and pasta here (also vegan). A DJ provides entertainment while you eat. A nice addition and the food is also just delicious! Right after that we took the opportunity to explore Méribel ourselves. Méribel is located a little lower than where we are staying (1450m). It’s a village with many shops, restaurants and coffee bars. But since they have been winning the hearts of our cycling enthusiasts, they also have several bike shops and service points for maintenance. We discovered that it’s not a sleeping town during the summer. There are plenty of bars, there are certainly tourists, and there is plenty to see!
IT'S ON THE GO! DAY 1
The first day of L’echappée du col de la Loze is a 67.3 km race and almost 2600 meters of elevation gain. We gather in the heart of Méribel. The weather is beautiful and promises to be a great cycling day. The organization has set up a tent here and we are handed our starting number and transponder from there. At 9 o’clock we start counting down and it’s RACE TIME. We descend in a group from Méribel towards Brides les-Bains. Almost 15 kilometers downhill. From there it’s up and down through small French villages and over nice short climbs towards Bozel.
Along the way, there are many volunteers who ensure the safety of the participants and we are also provided with food and drink. From Bozel, we climb towards Champagny and Vanoise and from there towards Courchevel to finish at the very top of Méribel Mottaret. The prize-giving takes place at the finish in Méribel Mottaret and none other than Thomas Voeckler (ambassador of Méribel) presents the prizes. The winner comes from Belgium and completed the course in a stunning time. It was a beautiful warm day, with lots of cycling and climbing that we ended with a good espresso and lunch at café Jack in the heart of Méribel. This café is a real recommendation for good coffee 😉
Enjoying Italy in France
In the evening we went to a restaurant for dinner. FIFI an Italian-oriented restaurant. FIFI is located slightly higher than the center of Méribel and is an old converted 18e -Old building. The antipasti and main dishes tasted delicious. The haute cuisine will do us well for tomorrow. After our dinner we drove to the start of the car-free section of the Col de la Loze. This is also the place where in the Tour de France Vingegaard rode off at Pocajar and for us the inspiration and motivation to blast up the mountain tomorrow. Now we just hope that the legs feel the same way tomorrow. Also in the evening after sunset Méribel looks beautiful. With the typical French Alpine chalets and the beautiful lighting and of course the mountain peaks all around us.
IT'S ON THE COURSE – DAY 2
We gather again in the heart of Méribel, ready for the 10.1 km climb up the Col de la Loze. It’s just before 9 a.m. and it’s already quite warm. After a final double espresso at café Jack, Sjoerd and I head for the start. Here we meet Thomas Voeckler, who is also cycling as an ambassador today. After a brief chat and of course a photo, the countdown begins and we are sent off.
With about 100 people, we head straight through the center of Méribel; the roads are marked here and there is no traffic to hinder us. The climb starts right from the start. Until about 7 kilometers to the top, we are in a populated area and are all encouraged to keep going. Sjoerd and I still manage to keep up quite well together until then and even catch up with Thomas Voeckler. However, I notice that my heart rate is very high and I don’t immediately recover. Once we leave the populated area (this is the car-free area), we enter a wooded area with views of the mountain peaks and a golf course.
Steep – steeper – steepest
They certainly weren’t lying when they said this was a steep climb. Although my legs keep on going and people are being caught here and there, it really is hard work on this day. Coming from the wooded area, you enter a more open section and at just over 2100 meters above sea level, you have a fantastic view over the valley. Although I’m aware of my surroundings, I also notice that the energy slowly fades from my legs. Sjoerd, whom I had already cycled at a decent distance, is now fishing for me. He apparently has a better day than I do, but I don’t let him know and I give it another go against those steep slopes.
Suffering two kilometers of pain.
That means I have to pay for it less than 2 kilometers before the top. The heat, the high breathing and “riding in the red” takes its toll. I really need to catch my breath. Sjoerd pulls me in between and even Thomas Voeckler comes by. After some time “enjoying the view”, I decide to continue to the finish. I arrive exhausted there. It was only ten kilometers but feels like much more. At the top there is a finish arch, fences and a DJ who with good beats leads the riders across the finish line. The feeling of having overcome this giant is truly magical.
Snow peaks
Once I start feeling better, I notice my surroundings. Snow-capped peaks, a clear blue lake, and the Mont Blanc looming in the distance are what we are presented with during the barbecue and award ceremony. Once again, our Belgian friend is the fastest with an average of around 15 kilometers per hour, which is astonishing. The last 300 meters alone were 20.9%. We get carried away by drinking, taking photos, and all the delicious treats we are offered before heading back down to Méribel. During the descent, I tell myself that although it was a bit of a letdown, the view and the challenge are great, so this must definitely be done again.
It is definitely worth it!
If you ask me, it is Méribel Definitely worth going for a cycling holiday. Not only the Col de La Loze offers a challenge in this area. There is plenty to discover on a bike and there will certainly be plenty of good food and drink options. And let’s face it, there is nothing more beautiful than experiencing for yourself how greats like Vingegaard and Pocajar fought here.
More information about Meribel? You can find it via the website of the Tourism Office
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.