Col de la Colombiere (North side)
The Col de la Colombière is a mountain pass in the Haute-Savoie department of eastern France, forming a natural passage between the Arve Valley and the Borne Valley. The landscape is defined by the sharp limestone peaks of the Bornes and Aravis massifs. To the southeast, the Pointe Percée marks the highest point of the Aravis range, while the Bargy range and the Pic de Jallouvre frame the horizon to the northwest. The pass sits in a rugged basin shaped by centuries of alpine erosion, creating a high-altitude link between the local valleys.
This ride climbs the north side from the Arve valley near Scionzier, the harder of the two approaches: the climb averages about 7%, with a flatter forest section through Le Reposoir and a final kilometre and a half at around 10%. Le Reposoir grew up around a Carthusian monastery founded in 1151 by Aymon I of Faucigny; the monks were expelled in 1901, and since 1932 the listed buildings have been home to Carmelite nuns. This is the side the Tour de France climbs on its way to Le Grand-Bornand: in 2018 Julian Alaphilippe and in 2021 Dylan Teuns crested first here before descending the other side to win the stage, Teuns just ahead of Tadej Pogacar, who took the yellow jersey that day. Richard Virenque in 1997 and Marco Pantani in 2000 also led over the top. The ride continues over the col and 2.7 km down towards Le Chinaillon.
Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
City: Marnaz
Distance: 16.77 km
Elevation Gain: 1003 m
Elevation Loss: 192 m
Difficulty: 850 (Hard)
FIETS Index: 7.17 FIETS
Avg Grade: 7.14 %
Max cat climb: HC
Min elevation: 605 m
Max elevation: 1609 m
Ride Category: Climb