Col de Joux Plane

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The Mont Blanc massif towers over the Col de Joux Plane. Three riders, irrelevant dots in a landscape, start down the road to Samoëns.
This has been quite a day, originally climbing up from Morzine to spend time in this mountain-top paradise with views to die for and cafes to stop anything like that happening, this has been a day to remember, a day that counts.

Such places can set you free.

Col de la Colombière

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One of the big beasts of the French Alps. The Col de la Colombière starts relatively slowly until you reach the village of Le Reposoir with its monastery, the Chartreuse du Reposoir. Then the road ramps up like it intends to take revenge for some terrible past life misdemeanour. By the time you reach the top, you will be on your knees.

Such places can set you free.

Col du Pré

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Coming off the top of the Col du Pré on a sunny summer's morning with the mountains and the lake stretched out before you is a sight to see. Sweeping down through the bends onto the edge of the turquoise blue water and out onto the Barrage de Roseland is such a great way to start the day.

Such places can set you free.

Cormet de Roseland

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Not surprisingly, the Cormet de Roseland is as famous for the Barrage de Roseland and the turquoise blue water of Lac de Roseland as it is for the climb. Together, they make up the centrepiece of the climb.

Such places can set you free.

Col de la Madeleine

Old school mountain climb deep in the heart of the French Alps. From the north, the Col de la Madeleine rises straight up from the valley floor in a sharp series of hairpins, quickly gaining altitude with a road that's no more than a single-lane track at times. This is enough to discourage most of the non-essential drivers. Leaving you free to enjoy the climb.

Col du Glandon

Don’t let anyone tell you not to do this, not to go. But don’t think this is something easy. You will need to be on top of your game. The final couple of kilometres are as tough as anywhere in the Alps.

Some days the mountains like to be left alone. Some days you will find here nothing but rain, snow and cold, lightning storms, zero visibiliy, moody, heavy clouds, and that's a good day

Col de la Croix de Fer

Far from the madding crowd. The Col de la Croix de Fer doesn't have much in the way of sexy hairpins, crumbling rockfaces or jaw-dropping canyons.

What it does have is sun on your back and wind in your hair, a sense of liberation that comes with being out in an environment so immense you pale into total insignificance. Where your wants and dislikes are just not considered, where you are just a dot.

Such places can set you free.

Alpe d'Huez

Fausto Coppi won the first Alpe d’Huez Tour de France stage in 1952. His name appears on the first bend of the climb.

Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond’s rivalry shaped the 1986 edition of the Tour and cemented Alpe d’Huez’s reputation for both out and out racing and decisive moments.
Marco Pantini became the first modern day legend of Alpe d’Huez after his audacious attack at the bottom of the climb and subsequent stage win during the 1997 Tour de France. The record still stands today at 36.50

Col du Lautaret

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The Col du Lautaret is an unloved climb. It has too much traffic of every description, moving much too fast for comfort, forcing you to spend every second just trying to stay safe.

Never allowing the time to take in the beauty all around you, especially on the road up from La Grave and La Meije glacier.

But it is there - in abundance.

Col du Galibier

Modern life is busy, there could be a million things on your mind as you start climbing the Col du Galibier. 

You’re upcoming marriage, you’re recent or imminent divorce, the birth of your first child. The boss you hate or the job you love. These hugely essential considerations will eventually be reduced to just one concern. 

Getting to the top of this climb. In this moment nothing else matters, The Galibier demands your full attention.

Col de I’Iseran

There are no barriers or guardrails on either side of the Col de I'Iseran, none at all, even when there are hundreds of metres to fall. Climbing all the way up here and, just as importantly, getting back down again is a serious business. But what you get in return is breathtakingly beautiful, awe-inspiring, and scary all at once.

This is the big daddy of the great cycling road climbs.
Many climb the north side up through Val-d'Isere, but the southern climb is where the real wild grandeur lies. It is as close to raw nature as you will find anywhere in these mountains.

Nothing surpasses the Col de I'lseran. Nothing comes even close.

Col d’Izoard

The Casse Déserte, one of the most iconic roads in the world of cycling and home to the modern day sporting hero. It can be found on the south acsent towards the top of the Col d’Izoard. Following a series of steep uphill sections, interspersed with tight hairpins, you enter a prehistoric landscape of crumbling rock, unstable life-threatening terrain, and severe heat. 

The mountain looks like it has been split down the middle with a great axe. Its innards spilling out like an open wound for all to see. 

Col de la Bonette

On the previous afternoon the thunderstorm rumbling around broke across the summit of the Col de la Bonette. Throwing ice-cube-size hailstones down and washing tons of debris, people, and cars off the mountain top, blocking the road, making the pass impassable.

By dawn, the road crews had partially cleared the road and reopened the pass. The storm had vanquished the oppressive heat and washed the sky clean. Out of chaos, beauty is born.

Perfect time for a ride.

Mont Ventoux

Unlike other cycling climbs, the roads up the Ventoux don’t go anywhere other than down the other side. With no through traffic making it a haven for cyclists. 

The upper slopes are devoid of trees or vegetation, leaving a moonscape that is simultaneously desolate and breathtakingly beautiful.