Col de Leschaux

May 17, 2025

What a fantastic day! It was just Scott and choosing to climb up Col de Leschaux on another day of glorious weather. With an average gradient of 4% and maximum of 5%, it is a climb with “a profile within reach of any cycle tourist.” Sounded like a good start for me!

I arrive before Scott and the pre-arranged “Point A” meeting place I’d missed yesterday and after a bit of fussing about we set off a little past ten. There were couple of miles on the lake-side cycle path and a bit on the road into Sévrier before we turned onto the quiet D41 and started the climb. I soon fell into a comfortable rhythm and relaxed into the very pleasant ride, stopping often to admire the views over the lake. As we climbed, the outstanding views of the lake were replaced with vistas over cropland and small hamlets, all surrounded by mountain peaks and/or ragged ridge lines.

There was no col sign at Leschaux celebrating our arrival, but Scott pointed the sign for Col de Semnoz and somewhat jokingly asked if I wanted to continue on. Instead, we took a break, posed for pictures, and struck up a conversation or two with fellow cyclists.

Église Saint-François de Sales in Annecy

As we climbed, the views of the lake just kept getting better

And lake views were replaced with wonderful vistas over the countryside

At the top of Col de Leschaux - only 12 km to Col de Semnoz where the views are spectacular. But not today

Scott and April, a local rider who kindly agreed to take our picture at the top - but you'll have to read Scott's journal to see that one!

Scott had planned a loop route back to Annecy and our return was even more spectacular than the way up. And not just because it was mostly downhill. In fact, there was a short climb up to the hamlet of Borny before we swept down to La Chapelle-Saint-Maurice where we paused briefly to take in the local action. The it was on through Saint-Eustache, continuing down on series of switch-backs that offered one stunning view after another - of the lake, the mountains, fields of buttercups, and even some cows. I kept stopping for photos, but soon let go and just enjoyed the experience of the moment.

Scott descending through fields of buttercups

Potable water spout for cyclists in La Chapelle-Saint-Maurice

The friendly crew at Les Soeurs Lucette in La Chapelle-Saint-Maurice

Everyone is having fun on the way down to Annecy

Memorial honoring war dead and those residents of Saint-Eustache who died in Nazi concentration camps

Such a wonderful route back down to Annecy

Scott and I met up again near Saint-Jorioz for the final miles back to the lakeside cycle path where I left him to admire the birds and wait for Rachael. I headed back to my hotel and my main task for the afternoon – choosing a restaurant for dinner. My choice was well-received and we all enjoyed a fine meal at Le Bistro du Rhone – the food was quite good and the staff were excellent. It was a wonderful ending to a day that, for me, was the best of the tour to date.

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Today's ride: 26 miles (42 km)
Total: 468 miles (753 km)

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Rachael AndersonGreat write up of the day!
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1 week ago