Col du Grand Colombier - 1501m from Aix-les-Bains:
1. Directions:
How to get to Annecy, where to stay, rent a bike or park the car, can be found here
2. Route description with suggestions for meal and/or water refueling stops:
By regional train we arrive at the Aix-les-Bains le Revard station and start our journey according to the map;
- 0km: (249m) from the roundabout, enter onto road D991 and head north alongside the railway line;
- 1,1km: (242m) at the Esso gas station, take the 4th exit off the roundabout - signpost: D991 La Chautagne;
- 18,1km: Praz (249m) turn left onto D57; signpost: Vions;
- 20,5km: (240m) turn right onto D921 - signpost: Culoz;
- 24,9km: Culoz (246m) it's worth stopping for coffee and refilling water bottles; turn right - signpost: D120, Le Grand Colombiere; the ascent begins;
- 40,5km: (1358m) gastronomic point Auberge du Grand Colombier - a good place for coffee and water refill; if you don't want to interrupt the ascent, there will be a drinking water tap after 5.8km on the descent; - 42,6km: Col du Grand Colombier (1501m) - main destination reached;

The climb profile from Culoz (24,9km) to Col du Grand Colombier (42,6km) is available on: climbfinder.com and cyclingcols.com

- 46,3km: (1205m) on the right side there's a drinking water tap;
- 51,1km: Virieu-le-Petit (644m) end of descent, turn right onto road D69;
- 52,6km: Moulin d'Arvieres (646m) turn right onto D120D - signpost: Col du G. Colombier; the ascent begins;
- 54,2km: Bordeze (730m) at a sharp turn, exit D120 and continue straight towards Meraleaz;
- 55,4km: (753m) turn right towards Meraleaz;
- 56,3km: (878m) make a sharp right turn onto a narrow asphalt road: D123;
- 61,3km: Col de la Biche (1325m) second destination reached;

The climb profile from Moulin d'Arvieres (52,6km) to Col de la Biche (61,2km) is available on: cyclingcols.com and climbfinder.com

- 74,6km: Gignez (369m) - turn right onto D991 and after 200m, turn left - signpost: Seyssel D991;
- 76,8km: Seyssel (256m) end of descent - turn right;
- 77,2km: Seyssel (252m) turn left onto the bridge and enter the city center; a good place for a lunch break and water refill;
- 80,4km: (255m) turn left onto D14 - signpost: Rumilly;
- 90,1km: Vallières-sur-Fier (357m) gastronomic points; continue on D14 towards Hauteville-sur-Fier;
- 94,1km: Hauteville-sur-Fier (358m) turn right onto D3 and after 300m, left onto D38 after the bridge - signpost: Etercy;
- 100,3km: Annecy (526m) turn left onto D16 - towards Annecy (no signpost) and proceed to your accommodation;

- Short video of the final stretch of the Col du Grand Colombier ascent (Michał Kwiatkowski's victory) from stage 13 of the 2023 Tour de France, available on Eurosport's YouTube channel.

Statistics on Col du Grand Colombier are available on: procyclingstats.com and for Col de la Biche on procyclingstats.com

   Download the route in: gpx

Statistics of the ascent to Col du Grand Colombier:
- start at an altitude of 246m (24,9km) finish at 1501m (42,6km)
- total elevation difference: 1255m
- distance: 17,7km
- average gradient: 7,2%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 14,2%

Col du Grand Colombier in Google Street View:

Statistics of the ascent to Col de la Biche:
- start at an altitude of 646m (52,6km) finish at 1325m (61,2km)
- total elevation difference: 679m
- distance: 8,6km
- average gradient: 8%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 14,3%

Col de la Biche in Google Street View: