Col des Saisies

Altitude 1658 m
Massif du Beaufortain
Département Savoie

Summary

• Plan your bike ascent of the Col des Saisies
• Bike ascent of the Col des Saisies from Flumet
• Description of the bike ascent of the Col des Saisies from Flumet. Flumet
• Col des Saisies ascent by bike from the D925
• Description of the Col des Saisies ascent by bike from the D925
• Conseils pour préparer l'ascension du col des Saisies
• Weather conditions for Col des Saisies
• Recommended equipment for Col des Saisies
• Services near Col des Saisies
• Access to Col des Saisies
• Témoignages
• FAQ

Crossing this Route des Grandes Alpes ® after an ascent of reasonable difficulty, you switch from the Val d'Arly to the Beaufortain. Almost exactly at the top of the pass, the Olympic resort of Les Saisies is the gateway to this authentic massif, where the villages rival each other in charm and sincerity. Hauteluce, Arêches-Beaufort, Beaufort-sur-Doron, the nearby Mont-Blanc massif, cows, Beaufort cheese... Welcome to the postcard!

Start : Flumet (908 m)
Distance: 14.6 km
Altitude: 1658 m
Height difference: 788 m
Average gradient: 6%
Maximum gradient: 8%
Tour de France® rating: hors catégorie

Time to climb (rounded) Col des Saisies by bike from Flumet

• At 7 km/h: 2 hrs 05
• At 11 km/h: 1 hrs 20
• At 15 km/h: 1 hrs 00
• At 19 km/h: 45'
  

Map of the route up the Col des Saisies by bike from Flumet

A fairly irregular pass, except for the first six kilometers, but very affordable in terms of changes of pace and a few bumps reaching 9 and 10%.

A climb punctuated by a few flat spots, allowing you to regain your breath and momentum. Villages and hamlets along the route to create landmarks and distract you. A long, easy finish. Two one-kilometre segments with 8% gradients. All ingredients that make this 14.6 km route as challenging as it is enjoyable.

Start : D925, between Beaufort-sur-Doron and Villard-sur-Doron, junction with D218B
Distance: 15.2 km
Altitude: 1568 m
Drop: 986 m
Average gradient: 6.5%
Maximum gradient: 8%
Tour de France® rating: hors catégorie

Time to climb Col des Saisies by bike via the D925

• At 7 km/h: 2 h 10
• At 11 km/h: 1 h 25
• At 15 km/h: 1 h 00
• At 19 km/h: 50'
  

Map of the route up the Col des Saisies by bike via the D925

Don't miss the start on the D925, between Villard-sur-Doron and Beaufort. It's the perfect opportunity to put the spotlight on Signal de Bisanne (1930 m): a beautiful climb of over fourteen kilometers from Villard-sur-Doron. 1225 m ascent, 8.51% average gradient, 12% maximum gradient, lots of twists and turns... If you feel like it and have time to spare, don't miss out!

Let's get back to the subject of this article and our main itinerary: the ascent of the Col des Saisies via its southern side. It's a 15.2-kilometre climb that starts out forested, before becoming more bucolic thanks to the mountain pastures. The views of Mont Blanc are breathtaking.

The ascent, punctuated by nine pretty switchbacks, can be mentally divided into two parts: before and after Hauteluce, roughly situated in the middle. It starts in the fir trees: not much to look at, but lots of shade, which is nice. The gradient remains at around 7% for almost five kilometers. It then eases off to 5.5 and then 6% until around kilometer 7. Then, for a few hundred meters, the gradient rises again to 8%.

Not a big deal, since you'll be able to recover on a 450-meter descent, which takes you to the junction with the road to Hauteluce. After a large switchback, head west for the last part of the climb. It's a steady climb at an average of 7%. A gentle slope brings you to the resort of Les Saisies, which you cross in its entire length until you reach the triangular monument that marks the end of the climb. Beautiful views back to Mont Blanc.

The Col des Saisies is neither the most difficult nor the longest to climb. Stay focused though, it's a fifteen-kilometer ascent at 8% and that's whether you're coming from the north or the south.

Our advice:

• There's a good chance that the ascent of the Col des Saisies will precede another, perhaps more difficult climb, such as the Cormet de Roselend. Even if you're feeling good, because it's a very rolling pass, don't get carried away and keep it under your pedal.
• Even if the Col des Saisies isn't the one that requires the most effort, remember to hydrate and eat regularly, all the way up.
• For set off on Route des Grandes Alpes®, we recommend our partners Vélorizons, LaRébenne and Belle Allure, travel agencies specialized in bicycle travel. They offer all the services you need for a successful tour, starting with luggage transfer and hotel reservations.

Weather conditions for the Col des Saisies

The Col des Saisies, which merges with the resort of the same name, is open all year round. Nevertheless, even though its ascent is dotted with villages and resorts that can be used as refuges, you are in the mountains. Find out about the weather before you go, and equip yourself accordingly.

To find out the weather at the top of the Col des Saisies, you can use the services of Météo France, which gives you the weather at the Les Saisies station, or go to meteoblue.com.

To find out what time of year to set off on Route des Grandes Alpes ®

A long summer's day on the first Savoyard passes (or the last, if you're coming from the south): Aravis, Saisies, Méraillet, Pré, Cormet de Roselend, can take you through every imaginable climate and temperature. An opportunity to use your entire wardrobe: from a lightweight Gore-Tex jacket that's easy to take off and put back on, to thermal underwear that protects you from the chill.

A few reminders to prepare for your trip and the many climbs that make up Route des Grandes Alpes®:

• Before you set off, get your bike serviced.
• Request a postural study to adapt your bike to your anatomy.
• Test your bike in different climatic contexts (heat, cold, precipitation).
• Ride with full saddlebags to feel the change in the bike's behavior.
• Practice basic troubleshooting: tire change, puncture repair, chain repair, etc.

On the north side, you can stop off at Flumet, a pretty little village resort, situated at an altitude of 900 meters. On the way up, you'll pass Notre-Dame de Bellecombe and near Crest-Voland. On the south side, it's much the same! At the start, you can refuel in Beaufort-sur-Doron and Villard-sur-Doron. And during the ascent, you can make a very slight detour via Hauteluce.

In both cases, the resort of Les Saisies, which marks the summit of the pass, has all the services useful to a touring cyclist. In short, it's impossible to die of hunger, thirst, or run out of electricity if you're on a VAE!

SNCF and bus stations

• Albertville
• Beaufort-sur-Doron

Road access

• D925 from Albertville (A43) and Ugine.
• D212 from Megève and the Arve Valley (A40).
• D925 and D218B from Beaufort-sur-Doron
  

"My worst memory on the Route des Grandes Alpes: the Aravis, Saisies and Cormet de Roselend day. I was freezing in the rain, with no view, the pool in my shoes, and my fingers frozen from not being able to pass over the big plateau. It was becoming an obsession: to get this day over with!"

Hélène, Benji and Fred.

"My best memory on the Route des Grandes Alpes is the finish at the top of the Col des Saisies, then the descent to Beaufort-sur-Doron under the benevolent gaze of Mont-Blanc."

Romain

"After crossing the bridge over the Arly at Flumet, the start is pretty steady. But it's steady, and then the climb is interspersed with two descents. We're pretty soon at the resort and at the pass..."

Gilles, Ussel

"I find the ascent from the south, from Beaufort, via Hauteluce, much nicer."

Jean-François, Ugine

"There are 2 traditional sides: north from Flumet and south from Beaufort. But when you study a map more closely, the Massif du Beaufortain is riddled with passages that lead to the Col des Saisies."

Joris Lesueur, who offers 12 climbs on his website www.alpes4ever.com (4 from the north, 6 from the south, 2 from the west)

Where is the real Col des Saisies?
The geographical Col des Saisies (1633 m) is slightly below the resort. So it's the sign you pass, at 1658 m altitude, at the entrance to the resort, which is the official sign and marks the end of the ascent.

When did Les Saisies become an Olympic resort?
In 1992, on the occasion of the Albertville Olympic Games, Les Saisies hosted all the Nordic events. It was also the resort of Franck Piccard, who won the downhill silver medal in Val-d'Isère at the same Olympics.

How many times has the Col des Saisies been climbed by the Tour de France?
The Col des Saisies has never been classified as a hors catégorie. Yet it remains a favorite of the Tour de France, which has climbed it 15 times.

What are the two major passes before and after the Col des Saisies?
The Col des Aravis, on the border between Savoie and Haute-Savoie. Le Cormet de Roselend, linking Beaufortain and Tarentaise.

Places to visit near Col des Saisies

Arêches-Beaufort

Haute-Tarentaise Vanoise