Eighteen months ago, there was nothing. The route resembled that taken by the pioneers of the Tour 100 years ago: a path of stones and pebbles with the added bonus of dust. "It was a path to feed the cable car and that's it," says Franck, a mountain guide.
The road leading to the summit of the Col de la Loze at 2,304 m above sea level - the highest altitude frequented this year by runners - was only paved in spring 2019. For the last kilometers, no vehicle is authorized: only bikes have right of way. Provided, however, that their owners can climb that far.
The 21.5 km long ascent, which plays on the roller coaster, offers an average slope of 8% with regular walls of 20% and more. The average person has to dismount to overcome the obstacle: "He is violent because he does not allow a rest range. We think it's over and it goes back all the more beautiful. It is harder than Ventoux for me ”, sighs Christophe a cyclo arrived at the top.
"A Christmas present dropped from the sky"
The Tour de France was to discover this unique pass this Wednesday for the 17th stage between Grenoble and Méribel. The Grande Boucle will finally climb it on September 16 and those who have found it hope to impose it on the menu of future routes. "It's a Christmas present dropped from the sky," savored the director of the Tour Christian Prudhomme. You go from 10 to 20% slope at once, it turns in all directions, it goes up, it goes down. For me, it's unheard of. This collar is unique and we will quickly see if it will become a classic of the Tour but I have the impression. "
For the moment only the participants in the Tour de l'Avenir have practiced it in an official race. Runner of AG2R La Mondiale, Clément Champoussin finished third up there: “It's a really difficult pass. As soon as you pass the Méribel altiport, the slope quickly becomes very steep. The difficulties are linked and the final at a rather high altitude for cycling adds difficulty in terms of breath. It's really very intense. "
"The stage will produce big differences"
For the record, it is Bernard Hinault follower of the Tour de l'Avenir who, discovering this monster, made a phone call to Prudhomme to advise him to integrate Loze in the Tour menu: “At the beginning of the 'Ascent, we are already at 10% slope, remembers Clément Champoussin. The last four kilometers, on a zigzag ski slope, are suffocating with a peak of 20% over the last 500 meters. For us, the stage was only 23 km long. But the Tour guys will already have had a larger menu before going up. "
Indeed Pinot, Bardet and Alaphilippe will have warmed up at the Col de la Madeleine before continuing with the Loze after 170 km of effort. "A pass is never hard when you climb it quietly, admire Bernard Thévenet, the double winner of the Tour (1975-1977) when discovering the place. There obviously, this will not be the case. I still do not know if this climb will be decisive but it will make gaps and big. It will be worth it, for sure. "
