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It has also excluded many of the more iconic climbs we associate with the Tour, such as Mont Ventoux, Alpe d’Huez and the Col du Tourmalet.
Though it does still include some classics such as Col d’Izoard, Col du Galibier and the Col du Télégraphe, all of which we visit on our own Southern Alps trips.
We started to discuss which climbs we would include if we were to design our own Tour de France route.
They didn’t have to be ones we had personally ridden, just whatever our dream Tour de France parcours would look like.
So we decided to compile our own Fantasy Tour de France Route, with our top 9 cols.
Here are some of our team’s dream routes below – what would your’s be?
Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear about your own – feel free to add why you chose each climb too!
Bike Weekender’s Fantasy Tour de France Routes
Teak
- Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence – Vaucluse (Ascents from Bédoin, Sault and Malaucène in one stage)
- Plateau de Solaison – Haute-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Col de l’Arpettaz with its 42 switchbacks, from Ugine (via Mont Dessous) – Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Col de la Croix Fry – Thônes, Hautes-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Col de Romme, then on up Col de la Colombière – Haute-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Mont du Chat – Savoie (Jura Massif)
- Col du Galibier – Savoie/Hautes-Alpes (Dauphiné Alps)
- Col de la Forclaz de Montmin, above Lake Annecy – Haute-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Col de l’Épine, from Marlens – Haute-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
Paul
- Col de la Forclaz de Montmin, via Vesonne – Haute-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Col de l’Arpettaz – Haute-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Col des Saisies – Savoie (Northern Alps)
- Col de la Colombière, from Reposoir / Scionzier – Haute-Savoie (Aravis Massif)
- Col de la Madeleine – Savoie (Northern Alps)
- Mont Ventoux via Gorge de la Nesque – Vaucluse (Jura Massif)
- Alpe d’Huez – Rhône-Alpes (Southern Alps)
- Col de la Croix de Fer – Rhône-Alpes (Dauphiné Alps)
- Col d’Izoard – Hautes-Alpes (Southern Alps)
Paul’s Alternative Fantasy Tour de France Stage to Glières via Lake Annecy
In fact, Paul went a step further and also devised his own fantasy TdF stage as well, featuring one of his favourite rides in the area:
Start in Annecy – all the way around the lake, up over Col de Bluffy – and round to Thônes. Over the Col de Marais and Serraval – along and up Col de l’Arpettaz and then over Col des Aravis – dropping through St Jean de Sixt.
Then down to Entremont and up to the Plateau de Glières for a summit finish after crossing the gravel for 2km! 145km – 3997m elevation
Col du Glandon from Chambre is a peach of a climb.
Thanks Peter, yes that’s another of our favourites too, and usually tends to feature in our plans when we’re running a trip in the area. Also just for ‘fun’ as well!
I’m really missing seeing some of the major Tour climbs this year and would like to see some new ones, so my #BikeWeekenderFantasyTdFRoute would be: Mont Ventoux, Alpe D’Huez, Col du Tourmalet, Col de la Madone, Col d’Aubisque, La Toussuire, Col de la Colombière, Col de l’Arpettaz (not used yet, but with its 42 switchbacks it sure should be!) and Col de la Forclaz de Montmin (overlooking Lake Annecy) – all chosen for their thrills, challenges, history and incredible scenery.