Tour De France Stages

Finhaut-Emosson Dam

The stats
Height 1,965m
Vertical metres 

Col de la Forclaz

Finhaut-Emosson

Starting in the Valais from Martigny, is the amazing Lac d’Emosson (The Emosson Dam¬) climb. It recently appeared in the French Criterium de Dauphiné race and was part of the 2016 Tour de France. There are two climbs, the Col de la Forclaz 1,525m and the Col de la Gueulaz 1,965m winding 30 kilometres up through vin yards and tree shaded roads before the more scenic mountain finish and the Emosson dam at the summit. 

Le Chable to Verbier

Part of the Tour du France 2009. A King of the Mountain summit finish in the ski resort of Verbier, where Alberto Contador famously laid the foundations for overall victory in the 2009 Tour de France. This 8.8km climb has an average gradient of 7.5% and last featured at the Tour de Suisse in 2012. A definite KoM or QoM opportunity!

Crans Montana

Crans Montana is normally associated with hosting large golf events but Crans Montana was host to the 20th stage of the Tour de France in 1984 won by Laurent Fignon, who also took the overall race win that year. The cycling around Crans Montana offers plenty of variety with several different options to the resort through the vine yards and forests.

Cols

Col Du Sanetsch

Popular with local professional riders because of the demanding nature of the 1,747m climb,  the route is technically demanding, with lots of climbing. The climb starts sedately enough winding through vineyards but soon the road opens up to reveal alpine pastures and the Tsanfleuron glacier. The climb finishes with a glacier lake and dam 4km past the col.

Col Du Grand St. Bernard

Col du Grand St. Bernard is on the Swiss / Italian border. This six kilometre climb to the monastery at the top is steeped in history and is for the more experienced cyclist.

Col Des Planches 

Another favourite from the Tour de Suisse, a short but very steep climb from Martigny cycling past chalets and forests to the summit of Col des Planches at 1,411m. A 11.41m climb with an average 8.2%, there is a reason why this is a popular route for the pro tours

Col Du Nufenen Pass

From the valley floor of Ulrichen the pass winds 13.4km at a gradient of 10%. The second highest paved road in Switzerland, with lots of hairpin bends. The Col is used in two epic Swiss alpine cycling events as is a must do Swiss classic 

Col De La Furka 

The road over Furkapass was built in 1867 and is the forth highest paved road in Switzerland. Fifty years ago it featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger. 

Col Du Grimsel

Col De La Croix 

The Col de la Croix is a favourite with the Tour de Romandie.  There are a couple of ways but starting in Aigle, climbing up through the ski resort of Villars before descending down the Col du Pillon and into Diablerets before finishing back in Aigle.

Barrage De La Grande Dixence

A steady and long 28.1km climb up from the valley floor to the Barrage de la Dixence, the dam is the tallest gravity dam in the world. The final stages of the climb are some magnificent hairpin bends, which are great fun.