The Col de la Loze is a mountain pass in the French Alps, with an elevation of 2,304 metres (7,559 ft). A path up the mountain was opened in May 2019, and is the seventh-highest mountain pass in France. The ascent featured in the 2020 Tour de France, as well as in the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir.
Col de la Loze | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,304 m (7,559 ft) |
Coordinates | 45°24′18″N 6°36′07″E |
Geography | |
Parent range | French Alps |
Col de la Loze is in Les Trois Vallées, at an elevation of 2,304 metres (7,559 ft).[1][2] From Col de la Loze, one can ski to the nearby La Tania,[3][4] and Le Praz.[4] By chairlift, one can get from Col de la Loze to Courchevel and Méribel, and by button lift, one can get to La Tania.[5] From Col de la Loze, one can also cycle to Lac Bleu [fr].[6]
A path up the Col de la Loze was built in 2018[2] and was officially opened on 12 May 2019.[2] On the official opening day, there was still snow on the mountain,[7] and it was the first French mountain pass to be cleared of snow.[2] Motor vehicles are not permitted on the path.[8] The path is paved on the side toward Courchevel.[8] The path links Col de la Loze to Courchevel, and in 2020 was paved on the side to Méribel. There are future plans to continue the path to Val Thorens.[2] It is the seventh-highest mountain pass in France,[1] and the third-highest mountain pass in the Savoie region.[8]
On 12 May 2019, the Col de la Loze held the Eiffage time trial event to commemorate its opening.[7][9] There were 2 races: one over a distance of 22.7 kilometres (14.1 mi), and one over a shorter distance of 8.6 kilometres (5.3 mi).[9]
The first professional cycle race to ascend to Col de la Loze was stage 8 of the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir.[10] The stage was won by Australia's Alexander Evans.[10]
Col de la Loze was the summit finish for stage 17 of the 2020 Tour de France,[10] which was won by Colombian rider Miguel Ángel López.[11] The stage included an ascent of the Col de la Madeleine, which was not in the Tour de l'Avenir stage.[1][10] The climb up to Col de la Loze was 21.5 kilometres (13.4 mi) long, with an average gradient of 7.5%[10] and a maximum gradient of 24%.[12] The route followed a path formerly used by a 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) mechanical ski lift.[13] The ascent started in Brides-les-Bains and passed through Méribel, before turning onto the new path up to Col de la Loze.[14] The finish point was the highest point of the 2020 Tour.[14] Col de la Loze was one of two new summit finishes at the Tour, the other one being Grand Colombier.[1] It will feature again in the 2023 edition.
Year | Stage | Category | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit |
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2020 | 17 | HC | Grenoble | Méribel (Col de la Loze) | ![]() |