24.7
PDI
10.9 mi
DISTANCE
3,955 ft
GAINED
6.8 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland
INTRO
This climb leaves the Rhone valley at Vionnaz and works up through the Chablais foothills into the Portes du Soleil ski domain, covering 17.6 km (10.9 mi) and gaining 1206 m (3,955 ft) at a 6.8% average grade to finish at 1591 m (5,219 ft).
The first 13 km or so follow the road's famous stretch through 25 consecutive hairpin bends up to Torgon, a small Swiss resort village and the first Portes du Soleil ski station reached from Lake Geneva. This section has real racing pedigree: it was the summit finish of Stage 4 of the 2019 Tour de Romandie, won by Primoz Roglic, exactly 40 years after Giuseppe Saronni won a Tour de Romandie stage at the same finish in 1979. Past Torgon, this route continues further still, climbing on into the high alpine pastures of the Portes du Soleil ski area rather than stopping at the village - a longer, higher day than the classic race finish.
The gradient is steady rather than shockingly steep - the trailing 10 km average settles to 6.8%, with the toughest sustained stretch (the steepest kilometer) averaging 10.6% - but the sheer number of switchbacks and the exposed, open pastureland above Torgon make it feel like real high-mountain terrain despite the moderate numbers. Views open up over the Rhone valley and Lake Geneva behind you as you climb.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. This route covers 17.6 km (10.9 mi) and gains 1,206 m (3,955 ft) at a 6.8% average grade, finishing at 1,591 m (5,219 ft) in the high pastures above Torgon.
The grade is remarkably consistent for a climb this long: the steepest kilometer averages 10.6%, the steepest half-mile 11.1%, and the trailing 10 km still holds at 6.8% - there's no single crux, just a long, evenly-paced grind through dozens of switchbacks. The lower two-thirds through the hairpins to Torgon are marginally steeper on average than the final few kilometers into the high pastures beyond it.
Roadway: Paved for the entire climb, a narrow but well-maintained cantonal road that's seen regular resurfacing given its use for the Tour de Romandie and other regional races. The lower hairpin section to Torgon carries real motor traffic; the road above Torgon into the ski area narrows further and sees noticeably less use.
Traffic: Light to moderate through the switchbacks below Torgon, heavier on weekends when Swiss and French day-trippers head up from Lake Geneva, and quiet above the village as the road climbs on into the high pastures.
Parking: Free parking is available around Vionnaz's village center near the base of the climb. Torgon itself, partway up, also has public parking near its resort buildings if you'd rather split the climb into two shorter rides.
A compact crank and a wide-range cassette make sense for the sustained, switchback-heavy climbing here, even though no single pitch is extreme - the steady 7-10% stretches through the hairpins add up over 17.6 km. Vionnaz has shops and cafes for stocking up before you start, and Torgon, about three-quarters of the way up, has a small selection of restaurants and a shop if you need to refuel partway. Above Torgon there's little to nothing until the top, and it's genuinely exposed, open pastureland, so pack layers - it's noticeably cooler and windier at 1591 m than down in the Rhone valley.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Vionnaz sits in the Chablais, the corner of Valais where the Rhone valley meets the Portes du Soleil - one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, spanning the Swiss-French border across a dozen resorts. Torgon, the small station about three-quarters of the way up this climb, is nicknamed "the Balcony of the Chablais" for its views back over Lake Geneva, and is worth a stop even outside ski season.
Vionnaz itself is a practical, unpretentious base - a real Valais village rather than a resort town - with the fuller range of hotels and restaurants found down in nearby Monthey or across the valley in Aigle and Villeneuve, both within easy reach if you want a wider choice for the night.
Riders based in the area can also look at the other Chablais climbs nearby, including the shorter routes up from Collombey-Muraz and Monthey, for an easy add-on day.
Ride in summer or early fall - the upper pastures above Torgon sit within the Portes du Soleil ski domain and the road is not maintained for winter driving once snow arrives. See other nearby ascents with our Routes in the Area tool.
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