Unless you are a local bike owner, you have probably never read about Mont Colombis (1734m)?! Not many people have, however ?for those in the ‘recognize ‘ and the connoisseurs?from the French cycling world, it has?earned your reputation of being among the list of toughest road climbs in France, or even ?THE? toughest.
It is often a?pretty mountain tucked within the Southern France Alps decorated with telephony masts on it’s peak?and it?is thanks to these masts there is a road! The climb can be?short but sharp at 12km long?by having an average gradient with 9%. It is?the perfect struggle for hill going up the cyclists and the reward at the top is?an incredible panoramic view covering the Ecrins National Park, a Durance Valley and the amazing turquoise waters within the Serre Poncon lake.
It is a unremitting climb and it’azines straight in, from the village with Remollon at around 674m of height. The first section walks you through the vines in addition to orchards and with a incline of ?8% to get up you up! After this you arrive at the quaint and very alpine, perched village of Theus (910m) where them steepens quite sharply to around 10% gradient. You can end for some fresh off-road water at the feature here.
As you proceed you will pass the actual famous geological site on the ?desmoiselles coiff
