Col de la Loze is the new giant of the French Alps and makes it’s first appearance as a Tour de France mountain top finish this year on 16 September in Stage 17.
It’s sure to be an epic Tour de France battle to the summit for top GC riders as they climb 21.5 kilometres at a slope around 7%, but kilometre 18 and 19 stand out with some 20% sections. The last 2.5 kilometres before the finish are equally explosive with an average gradient of almost 10%.
Deceuninck-QuickStep Pro Julian Alaphilippe did a reconnaissance ride up Loze in June and said, “One hell of a final climb up to the top of the Col de la Loze!”
On 13 September amateur cyclists can also test their climbing legs on Loze at the Col de la Loze by Brides-les-Bains Cyclosportive.
Starting in Brides-les-Bains, this first edition of the cyclosportive will be held just three days before the passage of the Tour de France.
The event offers two different routes to the top of Col de la Loze, each capped at only 500 registrations. Both routes link the valleys of Courchevel and Méribel, offering challenging and demanding ascents up Loze with stunning views of Mont Blanc from the summit.
The 60 kilometers, with 2,720 meters of elevation gain, route climbs Frasses, Champagny, then Col de la Loze from Méribel – just like the Stage 17 of the Tour de France.
The 100 kilometers route, with a whopping 3,800 meters of elevation gain, crosses the Cols of Frasses, Champagny, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Côte, and finally Col de la Loze from Courchevel.
Race departures will start at 08:00 for the 100km and 08:30 for the 60km. A 30km ride without Col de la Loze is offered at 09:15.
Find event, route and registration details here.
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