Cormet de Roselend from Beaufort in the Savoie
The Cormet de Roselend links the town of Beaufort, famous for its cheese, with the town of Bourg St Maurice.
The climb starts soon after passing the Cooperative Laitière in Beaufort. The first part of the climb is relatively gentle before kicking up through a forest over the first 11km.
The 3km around the beautiful lake offer some respite before the final 6 kilometre push to the stark, desolate rocky plateau.
The col has been crossed by the Tour de France 6 times from this side. When the Tour last crossed the col in 2009, it was the Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd, who in an unusual move, attacked during the early climbs to defend his sprinter’s jersey.
Length: 20.3km
Height at start: 740m
Height at finish: 1967m
Average gradient: 6.0%
Maximum gradient: 9.8%