Col de la Colombière explained

Col de la Colombière
Elevation M:1613
Traversed:D4
Map:Alps
Label:Col de la Colombière
Coords:45.9922°N 6.4758°W
Location:Haute-Savoie, France
Range:Alps

Col de la Colombière (elevation 1613 m) is a mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Haute-Savoie in France.

It connects Cluses in the Arve valley with Le Grand-Bornand in the Bourne valley. The road then leads further to Annecy or over Col des Aravis to the Arly valley and is situated between the Massif des Bornes to the north-west and the Chaîne des Aravis to the south-east.

The pass is not an important traffic route because there are better roads that parallel it, particularly the A40 autoroute.

Details of climb

Although the pass is not very high, it is technically difficult for cyclists.

Starting from Scionzier, the climb is 16.3 km long. Over this distance, the climb is 1108 m (an average percentage of 6.8%). The steepest section is 10.2% near the summit. From Le Grand-Bornand, the Col de la Colombière is 11.7 km long. Over this distance, the climb is 690 m (an average percentage of 5.9%).

On 31 May 2015, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry broke his leg near the start of the climb in Scionzier.[1]

Appearances in Tour de France

The pass was first included in the Tour de France in 1960 and has since featured 23 times, most recently in 2021.[2]

YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit
202181OyonnaxLe Grand-Bornand
2018101AnnecyLe Grand-Bornand
2016201MegèveMorzine
201091Morzine-AvoriazSaint-Jean-de-Maurienne
2009171Bourg-Saint-MauriceLe Grand-Bornand
200771Bourg-en-BresseLe Grand-Bornand
2006171Saint-Jean-de-MaurienneMorzine
2002171AimeCluses
2000161CourchevelMorzine
1997151CourchevelMorzine
1994181MoûtiersCluses
1991181Bourg-d'OisansMorzine
1990101GenèveSaint-Gervais Mont-Blanc
1987221La PlagneMorzine
1985121MorzineLans-en-Vercors
1984191La PlagneMorzine
1983181Alpe-d'HuezMorzine
1982171Alpe-d'HuezMorzine
1980181MorzinePrapoutel Les sept Laux
1978171GrenobleMorzine
1975172ValloireMorzine-Avoriaz
1968192GrenobleSallanches Cordon
1960182Aix-les-bainsThonon-les-Bains

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: John Kerry Cuts Europe Trip Short After Breaking Leg in Bicycle Accident . 31 May 2015 . Michael R. . Gordon . The New York Times .
  2. Web site: Le col de la Colombière dans le Tour de France. ledicodutour.com. 22 July 2022.