![Cycling Col du Chaussy photo collage; aerial view of hairpins snaking up the mountainside; view of guardrail along roadway built on sheer cliff edge]()
Cycling Col du Chaussy via Lacets de Montvernier
Ride 13.4 kilometers gaining 999 meters at 7.5% average grade.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy aerial drone views show the "lacets" of the climb - switchbacks snaking their way up sharp mountainside]()
While the climb itself is a challenge and worth including on your route in the extraordinary Saint Jean de Maurienne Climb Zone, it is the World Class hairpins which make this climb exceptional. This is simply an amazing climbing experience due to its amazing formation of hairpins (lacets in French), 17 in a brief cluster at the start. 0.4 miles up the climb we begin a unique set of compressed hairpins known throughout the world as “Lacets de Montvernier” (or in English, “Shoelaces of Montvernier”) that cover 1.2 miles/1.9 km at 8.7% average grade gaining 540’.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy road signs at climb's start: col du Chaussey par Les Lacets]()
The climb begins just northeast of E70 and D1006 near Pontamafrey, six kilometers north of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
This is a climb that simply must be done if you’re anywhere in or near the Savoie Department of southeastern France and the French Alps climbing hub of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy photo collage shows views along the climb, including Maurienne Valley; sharp sone walls, cross on hillside]()
Views on the first half of the hairpins.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy photo collage shows sharp drop off side of roadway]()
Views on the second half of the hairpins.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy yellow and white KM markers along the roadway]()
Kilometer markers before Montvernier.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy road signs for Montvernier, end of Lacets de Montvernier climb]()
Turn left onto D77 in Montvernier (2022 TdF turns right here).
9.9 kilometers gaining 1,507 meters at 7.3% average grade from this point to Col du Chaussy.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy yellow and white KM markers along the roadway]()
Kilometer markers after Montvernier.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy yellow and white KM markers along the roadway]()
The climb has appeared twice in the Tour de France - once (2015) in the Tour de France Stage 19 won by The Shark, Vincenzo Nibali of Italy; and again in 2018, Stage 12 which was won by Geraint Thomas (GBR) who went on to win the Tour that year.
![Cycling Col du Chaussy photo collage at climb's finish; PJAMM Cyclist stands with bike in front of road sign for Col du Chaussey]()