Grand Colombier Pass

The Grand Colombier is a mountain in the southern part of the Jura, with the summit of the colweg at 1501 meters above sea level, but the actual summit is at 1534 meters above sea level. Until 2012, this mountain was relatively unknown to cyclists, until it was included in the Tour de France 2012 (and has been included again in subsequent editions).

The Grand Colombier can be climbed from 3 sides, and is a really difficult pass:
1) The eastern side from Anglefort is steep with an elevation gain of 1200 meters over 15 kilometers (so an average of 8%), with longer sections of 14%.
2) The southern side (1250 meters of elevation gain over 18 kilometers) is the most beautiful side with a rocky section featuring eight hairpin turns. The rocky section is treacherous, as there is always a chance that rocks may be on the road from rolling down the adjacent rocks. Sometimes, this side is closed on police orders if many stones have ended up on the road (for example, after a rainfall). Halfway up the climb, you can leave the main road to pedal up to the viewpoint overlooking the Rhône valley.
3) From the southwest side of Artemare, you have two options: Take the first variant by turning right in Virieu-le-Petit and taking the D120C. The climb is then 15.5 kilometers long with an elevation gain of 1250 meters. There is a section with a 19% increase!
In the second variant, you continue straight on the D69 at Virieu-le-Petit and at the Moulin d’Arvières you turn right where you take the D120. The climb is then 20 kilometers long with 1250 meters of elevation gain.

At the summit, you have a beautiful view of the Rhône valley and Lake Bourget. At the top, you find yourself in a landscape of Jura meadows, with some cattle grids in the road surface to keep the cattle grazing at the summit.

haroldslegers