Mountain Pass – Discovering Cols

Riding your first Col, Passo, or Mountain Pass, can really change your perception of riding in the high mountains. The climbs are long, typically taking you to some of the highest accessible points and offer dramatic and varied scenery at every turn. The roads offer vital links between communities and take you on a journey through the natural terrain and the regions history.

The first col I ever rode was Col de la Croix de Fer and, like many of my mountain firsts, it’s was poorly planned and absolutely brilliant. At 31km in length, it was longer than any climb I’d ever attempted and would be the first time I rode above 2,000m. What struck me on this ride though (other than snow on the roadside in mid-June) was the scale and the incredibly varied terrain and scenery I was experiencing. I rode up a dam, through a forest, past waterfalls, past another huge damn, and through an alpine meadow. It was an incredible experience and one that is repeated all across these incredible mountain ranges, with each still retaining its own uniqueness.

After 35km and 1900m of climbing, the views from atop Col du Galibier are breathtaking

It’s the sense of ‘going somewhere’ which makes cols so fantastic and is what most people are picturing when they imagine riding in the mountains. Those epic Grand Tour stages typically build the day’s drama across a series of mountain passes, with dramatic helicopter shots of roads snaking into the unknown. As stunning as the passes are though, it’s essential that you prepare for them . No matter how incredible the scenery is, it’s less fun if your legs are screaming and you’re begging for it to be over… Still, there are worse places to sit and take a break!

Adding to the riding spectacle, is that the mountains still rely on farmers managing the land and this includes the annual process of taking cattle up to the high meadows in Spring (once the snow has cleared) and driving them back down again before winter sets in. Riding in the summer means you’re serenaded by the sounds of cowbells jingling from all directions. I was lucky enough one October to see the cows being brought down Col de Joux Plane and it was a special sight.

Cows being brought down from the high meadows of Col de Joux Plane for Winter

Whilst I would describe climbs like Alpe D’Huez and Mont Ventoux as challenges – something I need to tick off – I’d refer to cols as an experience. Not all passes are as high, or long, as the likes of Croix de Fer, Galibier, Stelvio and Giau, but they all offer a substantial challenge, varied terrain, stunning landscapes and, most importantly, unbelievable descents!

Next time you head out to take on this spectacular challenge, keep these tips in mind:

Do...	Don't...
Expect a long ride - be prepared	Understimate - 'less steep' doesn't mean easy
Water - plan refill points before and on climbs	Start late - valleys get dark quickly. Lights!
Start early - avoid the peak heat where you can	Burn matches - it will get difficult over time
Enjoy yourself - take in your suroundings	Under-fuel - eat and drink regularly

It’s not rocket science, but do the basics right and enjoy your ride!

There are so many great mountain passes to discover and (figuratively) get lost in. And don’t be constrained by the big players – there are plenty of lesser known, or ridden, passes which are a real treat. I recently rode over Col de L’Encrenaz whilst staying in Morzine, trying to reach the, sadly closed, Col de la Ramaz. From Morzine, it’s a fairly innocuous little 8km climb, with nothing much to write home about. But, drop over the other side and you’ve suddenly transported from ski capital valley into ‘the mountains’, surrounded by the most incredible views and, frankly, not a great deal of anything else. It’s a fantastic way to spend some time on your bike and has a brilliant water fountain which I unfortunately only have a terrible photo of!

Col de Sarenne is equally surprising. Since it’s appearance in Le Tour in 2013 to serve the a link allowing a double ascent of Alpe D’Huez, it’s more popular but still very quiet. The full ascent of the Sarenne from Mizoen is outstanding and a must do climb (descending this route is challenging though), but it’s the 5km stretch between summit and Alpe D’Huez which is the most special. In that no-mans land, you’re treated to snow topped peaks, small, windy (and poorly surfaced) roads and no idea that you’re just minutes away from one of the biggest ski resorts in the French Alps

Hopefully this has given you some inspiration and a desire to go an explore mountain passes for yourself. You can get some ideas for rides from the list of climbs I’ve completed, or those I hope to one day tick off. Ultimately though, it’s hard to go wrong from a scenery perspective, so just make sure you’ve packed your best legs and prepared for a big day out on the bike.

Happy riding!

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