Cycling Loop: Joux Plane Circuit

A long mountain route where you'll need to pace yourself, since the challenging climb up Joux-Plane accounts for only 55 to 60 percent of your total elevation gain, depending on your starting point.

Route direction: counterclockwise.
Landmarks and connections: St-Jean-d'Aulps when coming from Thonon; Châtillon and Taninges when coming from Cluses; for all routes: Montriond, Les Gets, Samoëns, Morzine.
Description: First climbed in 1978 by Tour de France riders, Joux-Plane has become one of the legendary mountain passes of the Alpine stages. The Tour de France has passed through it 17 times.Nevertheless, Joux-Plane remains a magnificent summit to conquer, even though it is not a geographical pass (which is located off the road, about twenty meters higher). On the proposed route, which is just under 12 km long, you’ll face a 12.5% grade right from the first kilometer and 5 km of gradients exceeding 9% toward the end of the climb. Added to this is the Col des Gets, which is significantly less challenging. It will serve as a long warm-up for those starting from Thonon and a moderately steep climb on the way back for those coming from Cluses.