Cycling itinerary: Traversée du Semnoz

Unbeatable views across the Alps.

Direction: counter-clockwise.
Landmarks and connections: Col de Leschaux (junction with Circuit de Leschaux no. 8); Sévrier (return on the voie verte).

Description: The figures speak for themselves: over 17 km at an average gradient of almost 7%, with several kilometers above 9%. Don't set off without some training on lesser passes. On a positive note, you'll have the coolness to yourself, as the climb is north-facing and takes place entirely in forest.

The climb starts in town, at the hospital roundabout. At the top of avenue du Trésum, take boulevard de la Corniche, then follow départementale 41 without interruption. After the fifth kilometer, you'll have 3 km of flat land to breathe in. After that, the effort is continuous. In addition to its athletic cycling profile, the Semnoz has another merit: its exceptional panoramic views. It's a high (1,699 m), isolated peak, standing watch on the edge of the northern Alps: from a circular vantage point you can see the peaks of the Valais, the Mont-Blanc massif, the Aravis, the Beaufortain, the Vanoise, the Bauges and the Chartreuse, among others!The descent is a two-stage affair: first, there are magnificent switchbacks to the Col de Leschaux, then a winding, gently sloping road to Sévrier, where you join the voie verte after 1.5 km, on the right-hand side of the departmental road.