France Col du Grand Colombier (Anglefort)
Col du Grand Colombier (Anglefort) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

27
PDI
9.4 mi
DISTANCE
3,917 ft
GAINED
7.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
MORE

INTRO

Col du Grand Colombier rises above the Valromey valley in France's Jura Mountains, and this approach from Anglefort is the second-hardest of the mountain's four paved sides, behind only the Artemare route. From Anglefort the climb runs 15.1 km (9.4 mi) and gains 1,194 m (3,917 ft) at a 7.9% average grade to the summit at roughly 1,479 m (4,854 ft). 

We've climbed all four sides of this mountain, and the Anglefort route starts under tree cover for its first several kilometers before meeting the road up from Culoz at kilometer 6.2. From there the two approaches share the same final 8.8 km, 610m climb at an 8% average grade to the top - the exact stretch the Tour de France has climbed to the summit five times since Grand Colombier's debut in the 2012 race (2012, 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2023). Before the Tour discovered it, Grand Colombier was already well known in France through the Tour de l'Ain, the Critérium du Dauphiné, and the Tour de l'Avenir. 

The Jura range it belongs to runs in an arc along the eastern edge of France and the western edge of Switzerland, arcing above Lake Geneva, and is home to some of Europe's hardest climbs outside the Alps and Pyrenees - still relatively unknown to American riders. The steepest kilometer on this side averages 10.8%, and the steepest mile 10.6%. Near the top, the route opens onto sweeping views of the Rhône and Lac du Bourget to the east.

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.
Col du Grand Colombier from Anglefort climbs 15.1 km (9.4 mi) and gains 1,194 m (3,917 ft), averaging 7.9% from about 299 m (980 ft) up to roughly 1,479 m (4,854 ft) at the summit. The climb starts under tree cover with milder grades before joining the Culoz approach at kilometer 6.2 for a shared, sustained final 8.8 km at 8% average. The steepest kilometer on this side averages 10.8%, and the steepest mile 10.6% - both concentrated in that closing stretch, so the difficulty is heavily back-loaded rather than spread evenly across the climb.
Roadway: The D120A/D120 is paved the entire way from Anglefort to the summit, and the road quality has held up well enough to host Tour de France stages (this route shares its final 8.8 km with the Culoz approach, the exact stretch the Tour has summited five times since 2012). Like the rest of the mountain, the upper road can close for snow outside the summer season - check the Ain department's road status before an early- or late-season attempt. 

Traffic: Light through the wooded lower section out of Anglefort. Traffic picks up somewhat after the junction with the Culoz road at km 6.2, since that's the more popular approach, and again near the summit, where a shared snack stand and viewpoint draw tourists from all four sides in peak season. 

Parking: Anglefort is a small village with straightforward on-street parking near the "T" intersection of the D992 and D120A where the climb begins.
Anglefort has basic services - a bakery and a small grocery store - for a final stop before heading out; it's a village, not a resort town, so don't expect much beyond the essentials. There's very little along the climb itself once you're on the mountain. 

At the summit, La Pause du Grand Colombier is a summer-only snack stand shared by all four approaches, a reasonable spot to refuel before the descent, but it isn't guaranteed to be open, so carry enough water and food for the full climb regardless.
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.
Anglefort sits in the Rhône valley at the foot of the mountain, with easy access to all four routes up Grand Colombier if you're staying in the area for more than a day - Culoz (the most popular and, we found, the most scenic when we rode all four sides in 2018), Artemare (the hardest and steepest), and Lochieu (the shortest and easiest) are all within a short drive. 

Since this side shares its upper section with the Culoz approach - the same road the Tour de France has climbed to the summit five times since 2012 - riding up from Anglefort puts you on genuine Tour de France roads for the closing 8.8 km, even though the route starts on quieter village lanes. 

See our other Grand Colombier pages, or our Routes in the Area tool, if you're planning to ride more than one side during your stay.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Not Yet Rated
-
Road
-
Traffic
-
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES

Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
ALL TRIPS
Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure!

NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

FROM
No Climbs Found

MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
LOG IN HERE
ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL
Route Data
S.G. (%)
hide
Segment Data
hide
CLIMB SUMMARY

photo shows curved one-lane mountain roadway

Cycling Col du Grand Colombier, France

 photo collage shows KOM bike statue, sign for col du Grand Colombier   

This is the route to the col that the Tour de France used in 2012 when it was featured for the first time.  Of the four routes to the col, the ascent from Culoz is #3 in difficulty with route from Artemare the most difficult and steepest.

roadsigns read "Le Grand Colombier," "la route de Bugey," and Gite Etape le Cabiolon"

The climb begins just north of Culoz by riding north up Route du Grand Colombier (D120).

Col de Colombiere is the most difficult bike climb in the Jura Mountain range. The Jura mountains run in an arc along the eastern edge of central France and the western edge of Switzerland.  To orient ourselves very generally using Lake Geneva as a reference point, the mountain range starts in France to the southwest of Lake Geneva and arcs above Lake Geneva, ending to the northeast of it.  Here is a crude PJAMM Cycling effort at marking the mountain range:

mountain range including Col du Grande Colombier marked off

photo collage shows sign for col du gd Colombier Ouvert; views along roadway, and KOM polka-dotted bike statue

The route to the col from Coluz (1 of 4) is the most popular route.

photo collage shows lots of green grasses and trees along roadway, yellow wildflowers, sign for Col du Grand Colombier

This mountain range is home to some of the most difficult bike climbs in Europe outside of the Pyrenees and Alps.  Little known in the U.S., this mountain range is poised to burst onto the climbing scene, if it has not already done so. Col du Grand Colombier initially became well known to cyclists via the Tour de l'Ain (a late season professional cycling race held generally in eastern France).

switchback on mountain roadway shows green mountainside views and painted roadway

While the Tour de France has propelled Grand Colombier to worldwide fame, it was well known France before 2012 due to its frequent appearances in the Tour de l'Ain as well as the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de l'Avenir.

views along the climb include Rhone river and Lac du Bourget

There are some magnificent views of the Rhône and Lac du Bourget just to the east of it.

photo collage shows green and white kilometer marker signs along climb route

Kilometer markers guide the way to the top.

photo collage shows scenic views along climb: green mountainsides, rock faces, switchback turns

We climbed Col du Grand Colombier from all four sides in 2018 and found the route from Culoz to be the most scenic.  

photo collage shows bike parked against large rock at climb finish overlooking the Rhone

Finish overlooking the Rhône.

road signs warn of 19% grade and falling rock 

The climb from Artemere is the most difficult ascent to Col du Grand Colombiere.

single lane roadway surrounded by dense tree forestation on both sides   

Photo from Anglefort route.

From Anglefort we are surrounded by trees much of this climb.  The Anglefort route intersects the route from Culoz at kilometer 6.2 and thereafter the two routes share the last 8.8 km, 610m ascent at 8% average grade.

road signs at the intersection of the Anglefort and Coloz routes up Col du Grand Colombier 

Intersection of Anglefort and Culoz routes.

The route to the Col from Lochieu intersects Artemere at kilometer 7 (Point de vue du Colombier). As with the other routes to the Col, we are surrounded by trees much of this climb.

TOUR DE FRANCE HISTORY

Col du Grand Colombier was the mountaintop finish of Stage 13 of the 2023 TdF

Photo:  Letour.fr

Col du Grand Colombier was first featured in the Tour in 2012.  Bradley Wiggins was the overall winner that year and Thomas Voeckler was King of the Mountains.  Voekler won Stage 10 of the tour which included Col du Grand Colombier.  Colombier was the first HC of the six in the 2012 TdF.  Voelker won stage 10 and donned the polka dot jersey that day.

Thomas Voelker winning Stage 10 2012 Tour de France.

Photo:  Christophe Ena/Associated Press

The Tour has featured Grand Colombier in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2020 (Pogacar first to the top), and it will be included in the 2023 Tour.

2020 Tour winner Tadej Pogacar won Stage 15 of the 2020 Tour by four seconds over tour leader Primož Roglic, but was still 40 seconds behind, in second place.  It wasn’t until four stages later that Pogacar sealed his legend in Tour lore by destroying the field on La Planche des Belles Filles in an individual time trial where he gained the yellow jersey and ultimately won the 2020 TdF.