Road cycling

Les 3 Vallées: a paradise for cyclists

Vélo de route sur la montée du col de la Loze côté Méribel au cœur des 3 Vallées

Hairpin beds, legendary mountain passes, long uphill climbs and alternative routes…

Les 3 Vallées promises exceptional adventures and rides for cycle tourists of all kinds, from April right up until the autumn. Here, each resort lives and breathes to the pace of the bike, with Les 3 Vallées already having hosted stages of the Tour de France!

A paradise for cyclists, it boasts unique, stunning views to admire along a wide range of itineraries available to suit all levels, whatever you feel like doing.

One of a kind, the Col de la Loze mountain pass connects Courchevel to Méribel on a road reserved exclusively for cyclists, and which reaches up to an altitude of 2,304 metres – an experience not to be missed by lovers of cycling and incredible landscapes!

From this summer you can also make the climb to the Col de Tougnète at 2430m from Les Menuires or Saint-Martin-de-Belleville for the bravest, while passing through Val Thorens, the highest resort in Europe!

Les 3 Vallées is also the perfects basecamp from which to explore other classic mountain passes, including the Col de la Madeleine, the Col de l’Iseran, the Cormet de Roselend and the Col du Petit Saint Bernard.

With or without electrical assistance, going full pelt or taking it easy as a family, cyclists of all kinds will be able to fulfill their dreams of getting away from it all here.

Infinity

Alternative routes & a big loop

Discovering road cycling in Les 3 Vallées and its mythical Col de la Loze

The vast expanse covered by Les 3 Vallées offers a wealth of hairpin bends and balcony roads, far from the busy main roads. It’s a lovely way to soak up the fresh air, in the great outdoors… admiring the fauna, flora and beautiful scenery!

Setting off from Moûtiers, follow the small balcony road known as ‘Les Frasses’, which is often in the sun and quiet until you get to Bozel, then move straight onto the climb up to Courchevel – across the Col de la Loze mountain pass and back down to Moûtiers, via Méribel. The loop is about 100km long, with a unique mountain pass in the middle.

AN ALTITUDE BIKE PATH

Road cycling on the 3 Valleys high-altitude cycle path

COURCHEVEL

Having hosted the Tour de France in 2005 and in 2020 with the arrival at the Col de La Loze! The resort created a high-altitude cycle path in 2019, connecting the Ferme de Pralong to the Col de la Loze.

Reserved exclusively to cyclists, this safe route boasts a 377-metre altitude change over a distance of 5.8km, as well as panoramic views over the valley, the Vanoise glaciers and Mont Blanc. Access is less challenging from the top of the mountain pass than from the Méribel side.

If you’re looking for a more challenging ride, you can cycle up to Courchevel 1850 from Brides-les-Bains, covering an altitude difference of 1,420 metres and a distance of 21km, over a 6.5% gradient!

MÉRIBEL

On the other side of the Col de la Loze, the resort of Méribel has also perfected its access to the 3rd highest mountain pass in the Savoie region, after the Iseran and Galibier cols…

Reserved exclusively to cyclists, the track is hillier, with sharp steep bursts with gradients of more than 20% in some places! Just cast your mind back to 2020, and the legendary arrival of the Tour de France at the Col de La Loze!

Here are 5 itineraries to get to the Col de la Loze from Méribel:

The discovery loop from Courchevel-Le Praz to Méribel, via the Col de la Loze: 35km over a 1,050-metre positive incline.

The big loop that starts out from Le Carrey, via Courchevel-Le Praz, climbing up to the Col de la Loze, and going through Méribel, Brides-les-Bains and La Thuile, before arriving back where you started: 62km over a 1,970-metre positive incline.

The climb up from Les Allues to the top of the Col de la Loze mountain pass: 14km over a 1,204-metre positive incline.

The climb up from Brides-les-Bains to the top of the Col de la Loze mountain pass: 22km over a 1,717-metre positive incline.

Road bike in Courchevel in Les 3 Vallées at the Col de la Loze at more than 2000m altitude — Push one's limits

BELLEVILE VALLEY

With the highest resort in Europe in your sights, cycle tourists will find plenty of routes to cycle here!

Les Menuires and Val Thorens have also hosted the arrival stage of the Tour de France.

Climb the Col de Tougnète at 2430m using the high-altitude cycle path, reserved exclusively for bicycles, starting from Les Menuires or Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. And why not, continue with the ascent to Val Thorens from Les Menuires!

Itinerary suggestions:

The climb to the summit of Tougnète (2430m) from Les Menuires, 7 km, 617m of drop for an average slope of 8%!

The climb up to Les Menuires from Moûtiers: 26 km over a 5.1% gradient with a 1,331-metre altitude difference – arriving in Les Menuires at an altitude of 1,800 metres.

A 36km route linking Moûtiers to Val Thorens, over a 1,861-metre altitude change and an average gradient of 5%, arriving in Val Thorens at an altitude of 2,340 metres!

All along this route départementale (B road), through Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Les Menuires, markers indicate the number of kilometres still to go!

And if you let yourself be tempted by the electric bike experience to reach the summits of Les 3 Vallées without forcing?!

Les 3 Vallées

Infinite Mountain
Experience

The territory of Les 3 Vallées is also the promise of an infinity of cycling experiences! Whether you are on a road bike, electric bike, mountain bike, E-MTB ... and even with your children. Discover the selection we have concocted for you.