REGION THE THREE VALLEYS IS TRYING TO WIN HEARTS OF CYCLING FANS.
When you talk about cycling in the French Alps, you tend to immediately think of the Alp d'Huez, Galibier Telegraph and the Glandon and places like Le Bourg D'oisans or Valloire, but those who have been following the 2023 Tour de France and have seen the 17e stage in mind now also know that the Col de la Loze is a mountain to be reckoned with. Located between Courchevel and Meribel lies this challenging climb. Pogacar bit the bullet on it and we (Sjoerd van Bemmelen and Dennis Knuist) now also know how that felt. At the invitation of Méribel we drove here, a 10-hour drive from the Netherlands. Our welcome by Marie is very warm. She immediately puts all the information at our disposal and gives us all kinds of tips for a nice stay! We are looking forward to it. Read along?
FROM SKI TO BIKE RESORT
The sites and Méribel Courchevel are best known among winter sports enthusiasts for their beautiful and challenging slopes, but since the tour has passed here for the 2x time, they are working hard to win the hearts of many a cycling fan.
COL DE LA LOZE is the crowd puller
The Col de la Loze is officially 10.1 km long and has an average gradient of 8.6% with outliers to 13, 15 and even 20.9%. It is a monster of a climb, in the right sense of the word. It's a crowd-pleaser, but you don't get a moment's rhythm and the last 300 metres feel like cycling straight up. The last seven kilometres are car-free which is very nice cycling and once at the top there is the serene calm of magical mountain peaks a clear blue lake and Mont Blanc as a view.
OUR STAY
We are staying in Méribel Mottaret, one of the highest ski villages in France (1750m). Our flat is located on the 1e floor of a large complex and offers space for 2 people and our bikes. It is fully equipped for a carefree stay. Right around us are shops and a supermarket so we are fully equipped. We are here at the invitation of Méribel to take part in L'echappée du col de la Loze a two-day cycling event consisting of a course and an uphill time trial. None other than Thomas Voeckler is our host these days.
Enjoying the village
The first evening we were invited to dinner at restaurant LE80, a pretty hip place right at the beginning of the main shopping street. Lots of kinds of burgers and pastas here (vegatarian too). A DJ here provides entertainment while you eat. Nice addition and the food is also just delicious! Immediately after this, we took the chance to explore Méribel for ourselves. Méribel is slightly lower than where we slept (1450m.) It is a village with many shops, restaurants and coffee bars. But since they are thus conquering the hearts of us cycling fans, they also have several bike shops and service points for maintenance. We discovered that it is not a sleeping city during the summer. There are plenty of bars, there are definitely tourists and so there is plenty to see!
THE COURSE! DAY 1
The first day of L'echappée du col de la Loze is a course of 67.3 km and almost 2600 altimeters. We gather in the heart of Méribel. The weather is beautiful summer and it promises to be a fine day of cycling. Organisation has set up a tent here and we are handed our start number and transponder from there. At 9 o'clock we count down and it's KOERS. We descend in peloton from Méribel towards Brides les-Bains. Almost 15 kilometres downhill. From there it's up and down through small French villages and over fine short climbs towards Bozel.
Along the way, there are many volunteers to ensure the safety of the participants and we are also provided with food and drinks. From Bozel we climb towards Champagny en Vanoise and from there towards Courchevel to finally finish at the top of Méribel Mottaret. The awards ceremony will take place at the in Méribel Mottaret and none other than Thomas Voeckler (Méribel ambassador) will present the prizes. The winner is from Belgium, and completed the course in a stunning time. It was a beautiful warm day, with lots of cycling and climbing that we finished with a good espresso and lunch at café Jack in the heart of Méribel. This café is highly recommended for good coffee 😉
Italian delights in France
In the evening we had dinner at restaurant FIFI an Italian-oriented restaurant. Located slightly above the centre of Méribel, FIFI is an old converted 18e -century building. The anti pasti and main courses tasted delicious. The haute cuisine will do us good for tomorrow. After our dinner, we drove on 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 away from Pocajar and for us the inspiration and motivation to bang uphill tomorrow. Now let's hope the legs feel the same tomorrow. Méribel also looks beautiful in the evening after sunset. With the typical French Alpine houses and the beautiful lighting and, of course, the mountain peaks around us.
IT'S 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 is just before 9 o'clock in the morning and already quite warm. After a final double espresso at café Jack, Sjoerd and I head towards the start. Here we meet Thomas Voeckler, who is also riding today as ambassador. After a brief chat and, of course, a photo, the countdown begins and we are shot.
With about 100 people, we go straight through the centre of Méribel, the roads here are blocked off and there is no traffic to bother us. It is climbing right from the start. Until about 7 kilometres to the summit we are in populated areas and we are all encouraged. Sjoerd and I have been cycling pretty close together until then and we even overtake Thomas Voeckler. I do notice that my heart rate is very high and recovery is not imminent. Once we leave the inhabited area (this is the car-free point) we enter a wooded area with views over mountain peaks and a golf course.
Steep - steeper - steepest
They certainly didn't lie about this being a steep climb. Although my legs keep going and people are being overtaken here and there, it is really hard work this day. From the forest section you come into a more open section and at just over 2100 metres, this has fantastic views over the valley. Although is paying attention to the surroundings I also notice that the energy is slowly disappearing from my legs. Sjoerd whom I had cycled a fair distance by now is angling me in. He seems to be having a better day than I am, but I don't give in and give it one more push up those steep slopes.
Two kilometres of pain.
So I have to pay for that just under 2 kilometres before the summit. The heat, high breathing and "cycling in the red" take their toll. I really need to catch my breath. Meanwhile, Sjoerd overtakes me and even Thomas Voeckler passes by. After some time "enjoying the view" I decide to push on to the finish. Up there, I arrive exhausted. It was only ten kilometres but feels like much more. At the summit, there is a finish arch, fences and a DJ who brings the riders over the line with good beats. The feeling of having conquered this giant can be called magical.
Snow peaks
Once I feel a little better I notice my surroundings. Snow-capped peaks, a clear blue lake and Mont Blanc as out of sight is what we are presented with during the barbecue and awards ceremony. Once again, our Belgian friend is the fastest with an average of around 15 kilometres per hour is astonishing. The last 300 metres alone were 20.9%. We feast on drinks, pictures and all the treats on offer before taking the descent back to Méribel. During the descent, I agree with myself that although it was gruelling the views and the challenge are great so this one should definitely be done again.
It's definitely worth it!
If you ask me Méribel definitely worth going there for a cycling holiday. Not only the Col de La loze offers a challenge in this area. There is plenty to explore by bike and there will certainly be no shortage of good places to eat or drink. And say it yourself, there is nothing like experiencing for yourself how greats like Vingegaard and Pocajar competed here.
More info on Meribel? You can find it via the Tourism Office website
