La Clusaz is almost unique in the Alps in offering no fewer than five different roads out of the village, in five different directions. There is no better base from which to cycle the Alps.

The summits of three well-known climbs from the Tour de France are within less than 20 km of cycling, and in total there are thirteen major Tour de France climbs that can be reached directly by bike from la Clusaz. In a typical week, we climb nine of these, and in our One Day, One Col programme we climb five of them.

All of the following 27 climbs can be managed by any moderately fit rider in a day’s ride from our base, although riding there and back to either the Joux Verte, the Cormet de Roselend or the Madeleine is quite a serious challenge! Sometimes the best option is to stop for lunch and ride back in the minibus.

Further afield: more legendary ‘Cycle the Alps’ climbs

Many other famous Alpine climbs, such as the cols de l’Iseran, d’Izoard, du Télégraphe, du Galibier, du Glandon, du Mollard, de la Croix de Fer, du Chaussy – including the amazing lacets de Montvernier – as well as, last but not least, the climb to Alpe d’Huez and even Mont Ventoux (which is not in the Alps) are all accessible from La Clusaz but are best tackled via an initial minibus ride.

We are delighted to guide you on any of these climbs, so long as a large enough group is in agreement. The climbs are listed below, together with their approximate journey time from La Clusaz by minibus.