26.2
PDI
11.3 mi
DISTANCE
4,119 ft
GAINED
6.8 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Saisies + Mont Bisanne is an 18.2 km (11.3 mi) paved climb from Villard-sur-Doron in Savoie's Beaufortain, averaging 6.8% and gaining 1,256 m (4,119 ft) to the Signal de Bisanne summit at 1,929 m (6,330 ft). Unlike the more direct route up Bisanne, which forks away from Col des Saisies early, this version rides the full plateau through the Col des Saisies ski village before turning off for the final push to the summit - adding rolling distance in exchange for a proper village stop partway up.
Les Saisies is worth lingering in for more than just a coffee. The plateau hosted the cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events of the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, and it remains a working dairy village today - the Fromagerie des Saisies, on the plateau at Place Jean Berthod, sells Beaufort cheese made from local herds and is open through the summer cycling season.
From the plateau, the road continues to the Signal de Bisanne, a Beaufortain summit the Tour de France has finished on twice (2016 and 2018) via this same Villard-sur-Doron side - see our dedicated Mont Bisanne page for the full history of that finish and the panorama at the top.
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. Saisies + Mont Bisanne climbs 18.2 km (11.3 mi) from Villard-sur-Doron to the Signal de Bisanne summit, gaining 1,256 m (4,119 ft) at an average grade of 6.8%. The road starts around 707 m (2,320 ft) and finishes at 1,929 m (6,330 ft).
The grade is uneven rather than steady - rolling terrain through the Col des Saisies plateau breaks up the lower and middle sections, and the climb steepens toward the top: the steepest mile averages 10.6%, and the steepest kilometer holds 10.8%.
Roadway: The road is paved for the entire climb and in good condition through the Col des Saisies plateau and on to the Signal de Bisanne. Some of the valley road below Villard-sur-Doron carries occasional truck traffic as part of the Route des Grandes Alpes corridor, but the climb itself, once it turns off toward Col des Saisies, is a quieter mountain road. We found no report of an active 2026 closure; like the rest of the high Beaufortain, expect the upper stretch to close under snow each winter.
Traffic: Light to moderate through the lower valley kilometers, busier through the Col des Saisies village itself in summer tourist season, then noticeably quieter again on the final push to the Signal de Bisanne, since most visitor traffic stays on the plateau rather than continuing to the summit.
Parking: Villard-sur-Doron has roadside parking near the village center if you want the full climb from the base. The Col des Saisies plateau also has resort parking areas roughly two-thirds of the way up, a good option if you'd rather split the climb or just ride the steeper finish to the Signal.
Gear: A standard compact setup handles the 6.8% average fine, but keep a low gear in reserve for the steeper finish above Col des Saisies, where the grade pushes past 10%.
Provisions: Villard-sur-Doron has basic services at the base, and the Col des Saisies plateau, roughly two-thirds of the way up, has a full resort village with cafes and shops - including the Fromagerie des Saisies, worth a stop for Beaufort cheese if you're not in a hurry. There's nothing beyond the plateau until the summit.
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.
The Col des Saisies plateau you ride through partway up isn't just a rest stop - it's genuine Olympic ground, having hosted the cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events of the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, and it's still a working Beaufort cheese region today via the Fromagerie des Saisies on the plateau.
From there, the road continues to the Signal de Bisanne, twice a Tour de France summit finish (2016 and 2018) from this same Villard-sur-Doron side - see our dedicated Mont Bisanne page for that climb's full race history. Villard-sur-Doron also sits within reach of the Beaufortain's other big climbs, including Cormet de Roselend and Col du Pré, making this a solid base for a multi-day trip; our Routes in the Area tool is a good way to see what else is nearby.
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