Col de la Loze

The Col de la Loze - 2304 m - is an ascent located in the Massif de la Vanoise in the heart of the "Three Valleys", linking the resorts of Courchevel and Méribel. The Col de la Loze is the first stage of the future "Via 3 Vallées", which will link Courchevel, Méribel and eventually Val Thorens. It is particularly remarkable in many ways:

• First of all, the road only dates back to 2019! This is a historic case for the second millennium. Many cycle passes are already a hundred years old... it's lucky to have witnessed the birth of this new pass.
• The road was built in 2 stages: first the Courchevel side in autumn 2018 (official opening May 18, 2019) and then the Méribel side in summer 2019.
• Please note: when I say built, I mean built. In fact, it's an existing track that's been tarred. It was used in summer for 4×4s and in winter as a ski slope. This is still the case today, as the upper part of the Col de la Loze runs between the ski resorts of Méribel and Courchevel, which are also grazing areas in summer. Experienced mountain bikers also used this trail to access the Col de la Loze.
• Second clarification: as the road has just been tarred, you have to assimilate the fact that it follows all the variations in slope of the Rocher de la Loze (2527 m). Understand right away that the percentages are highly irregular. For example, they can go from 10% to almost 20% all at once! But on small sections, you won't have 500 m at 20% but rather 50-100 m. I'll come back to this a little further down in my descriptions.
• Also clarify one point: the Col de la Loze that you will cross at 2304 m is not the geographical pass! It's the Sommet des Lanches, which is even a hair higher at 2307 m. This is where the Loze chairlift (Méribel) and the Dou des Lanches chairlift (Courchevel) arrive, and where you'll find a high-altitude restaurant. The real Col de la Loze is a little further north at 2275 m, about 300 m from the Méribel finish. For purists, I've noted its position on the map below.
• We could go on to ask: how does it rank in the top 10 of France's highest Alpine road passes? Well, to date, it still doesn't appear on the Wikipedia page dedicated to this ranking. Let's do a little projection and assume that the "false" Col de la Loze at 2304 m is recognized, it would overtake the Col d'Allos (2250 m) to rank 8th. Not easy to place the real Col de la Loze (2275 m), this one is a tiny bit off the road (2270 m), you have to take off your shoes and go to the geographical point by a very short path.
• The end of each slope above the Méribel and Courchevel resorts is reserved exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians. It's a cycle path, but you'll sometimes have to share it with a few 4×4s belonging to farmers who have to look after their herds of cows in the pastures. The road is therefore not wide (the width of a car).
• In the space of just one year, this pass has already acquired quite a reputation, especially in terms of its difficulty, and is a scarecrow in the cycling sphere. Firstly, a monstrous difference in altitude from Moûtiers - Méribel side / 1826 m - Courchevel side / 1886 m. Then passages of between 15 and 20% at altitudes of over 2000 m. To compare, remember the last kilometer of Mont Ventoux and its 10% or the last 3 kilometers at 11% of the Col du Glandon which are under 2000 meters... short of breath, looking for air to feed the circuit... well, you'll have to take these parameters into account at over 2000 m!!!! We can only give 2 pieces of advice: be sharp and use the right gear ratio. Fashionable 50×34 / 12-28 type compacts will pass a litmus test... which will often prove cruel!
• This Col de la Loze is already attracting attention as it has already been the scene of professional races in 2019 with the Tour de l'Avenir and on the occasion of stage 17 of the Tour de France in 2020.

Meribel slope topo

The starting point is Moûtiers in the Tarentaise Valley. You'll have to climb up the Doron Valley from Bozel to the heights of Brides-les-Bains, keeping well on the D915. The ascent begins gently over 4.3 km, with a gradient of between 1% and 4%. The last 850 m on the D915 are much steeper, at 7.5%. Leaving the D915, you take the D90 to tackle the climb to the Vallée du Doron-les-Allues. A succession of 6 fairly steep switchbacks - 5.7 km at 7/8.5% - will lead you to Les Allues (alt. 1096 m).

But the slope will remain a little less steep in part until you reach the Méribel-les-Allues resort (alt. 1404 m): 5.2 km at 6%.

Turn left onto the road that rises above the resort. 7 twists and turns for 3.5 km on a gradient that will drop from 8 to 6.5% will guide you to the starting point of the Col de la Loze cycle path (leave the road leading to the Altiport and turn right onto the Route du Belvédère).

It's an easy climb.

Let's get one thing straight: you're at an altitude of 1644 m, so the final ascent will be 7 km long for a positive vertical drop of 660 m at... 9.5% average! Suffice to say, you're going to be sweating it out... but things are going to be more complicated than that...

First, the slope rises in the Bois de la Frasse for 2450 m, and offers you passages of all kinds: 7.5 - 11 - 9 - 4%. The color is announced: it's very irregular. Above all, remember that the cycle path is used as a ski slope in winter...

The landscape comes into view. The track then rises for 500 m at 14.5% to reach a point (Alt. 1895 m) near the arrival station of the Rhodos Télécabine. Your altimeter may panic for a few meters, displaying a percentage close to 20%!!!

You think you've done the hard part... well no, the 2000 m altitude crossing is going to be very painful: 1350 m at 11%! Misery, no respite...

The trail then heads due north up the slopes of Rocher de la Loze... it's now a long, straight ramp that awaits you: 2440 m at just over 9% average. At an altitude of 2270 m, you'll pass close to the real Col de la Loze (2275 m). Try to take in the breathtaking views over the Doron des Allues valley and the peaks of the Massif de la Maurienne.

The last 290 meters at 12% (a rather misleading percentage as there will still be a few meters at over 15%...) will finish you off while guiding you towards the Sommet des Lanches where the final point of this ascent to the "false" Col de la Loze lies at 2304 m.

At the summit, a high-altitude restaurant, a giant bicycle and a view of Mont Blanc.

Topo Courchevel side

This is a long climb of 32.7 km for 1886 m of D+ at 6% average. The starting point is Moûtiers in the Tarentaise Valley. The route takes you up the Doron Valley from Bozel to the heights of Brides-les-Bains, keeping to the D915. The ascent begins gently over 4.3 km, with a gradient of between 1% and 4%. Then 840 m will be much steeper at 7% (up to under a small bridge) before a gentle descent of 1.5 km.

At the end of the descent, still on the D915, the gradient will steepen again to an average of 7% for 2.9 km through La Perrière. Then you'll be able to blow for 550 m at 5% until the junction towards St-Bon.

From the junction, taking the D91a, you'll have 17.7 km of climbing left. The climb to St-Bon, Courcheval-le-Praz and then Courchevel Village (Courchevel 1550) will be tough. Count on almost 7.7 km at an average of 7.5%, including a long stretch of 2 km at 8.5% before Courchevel Village.

From Courchevel Village, the gradient will drop to between 4 and 6.5% for 5.5 km to Courchevel (Courchevel 1850), via Courchevel-Moriond (Courchevel 1650).

Follow the route de l'Altiport - 3.5 km at 5.5% - to reach the starting point of the Col de la Loze cycle path, which lies on the heights of the Courchevel resort.

Let's get one thing straight: you're at an altitude of 1921 m, so the final ascent will be 6.4 km long for a positive vertical drop of 415 m at an average of 7%! This slope is much more affordable than Méribel's... but business won't be as simple as all that...

The first 600 metres are not difficult: 4%. But what follows is a fairly brutal break in gradient: 780 m at 11%. We'll have to follow this up with 450 m at 9% to the departure station of the Les Verdons gondola.

The first 600 m are not difficult: 4%.

Then... a life-saving 470 m descent (!) will help you apprehend the fact that you've passed 2000 m altitude. The rest is gentle: 1550 m at 6%, here's enough to let you admire the beautiful ridges bordering Rocher de la Loze while weaving under a series of chairlifts. You can also take in the breathtaking views over the Doron de Bozel valley and the peaks of the Tarentaise Massif.

Beware of the abseil: 475 m at 10%. Then the trail bends due east, where you'll need to be able to manage a less painful finish than Méribel's with 770 m at 6% then 840 m at 8.5% to reach the "false" Col de la Loze at 2304 m.

At the summit, a high-altitude restaurant, a giant bicycle and a view of Mont Blanc.

Author

Joris Lesueur

webmaster of alpes4ever.com

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