Col des Glières from Thorens-Glières

The climb out of Thorens-Glières starts with a steady, manageable rhythm as you spin through the lower valley. Once the road narrows and dives into the dense forest, the gradient kicks up aggressively and stays that way. You will find yourself grinding a low gear as the trees close in and the traffic disappears.

The pitch remains relentless until you break through the tree line near the summit. The landscape shifts instantly from dark, tight switchbacks to the open expanse of the Plateau des Glières. You will finish the final few hundred metres on a gravel surface that leads directly to the mountain cafe and the Resistance memorial.

The gravel is manageable on a road bike but not ideal. It's the only way to get to the valley on the other side, or you need to go down the same road as you came.

Take a moment at the Resistance memorial to soak in the world war 2 history this plateau carries.