When people think of the Tour de France, iconic names like Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, and Col du Galibier usually come to mind. These mountains are etched into cycling history, each with decades of drama written on their slopes.
But since 2020, a new name has forced its way into the conversation: the Col de la Loze. It’s high. It’s brutal. And it’s utterly unique. For riders and fans alike, it has already become one of the most feared and fascinating climbs in the modern Tour.
The Col de la Loze is a mountain pass in the French Alps that connects the ski resorts of Méribel and Courchevel, sitting at a breathtaking 2,304 meters (7,559 feet) above sea level. It’s now the seventh-highest road ever used in Tour de France history.
Unlike most climbs that evolved naturally over centuries of use, the Col de la Loze is purpose-built for cycling. In 2019, a narrow paved bike path was constructed to link Méribel and Courchevel at altitude—meaning the final kilometers of this climb are reserved exclusively for cyclists.
That might sound charming—until you see the gradients.
What makes the Col de la Loze so punishing isn’t just its altitude—it’s the way the road behaves.
The final 7 kilometers of the climb are completely unpredictable: a constantly shifting series of steep pitches, brief dips, and sharp curves. Riders describe it as a climb where you can never find a rhythm. Unlike longer, steadier climbs like the Galibier or Tourmalet, the Loze attacks the legs and the mind with every twist in the road.
With gradients frequently pushing above 15%, and even briefly hitting 20%, the Loze has already gained a reputation for being one of the hardest summit finishes in the entire Tour.
The Loze is a symbol of the modern evolution of the Tour de France. Organizers are no longer just relying on history—they’re building new tests, ones that push riders to the brink and force them into new tactical territory.
It’s not a “pretty” climb. It doesn’t have the neat hairpins of Alpe d’Huez or the solemn history of the Ventoux. What it has is chaos—the kind of unpredictable terrain that turns legs to jelly and makes even the strongest riders vulnerable.
And that’s why fans love it.
A short but explosive history at the Tour de France
2020: The Col de la Loze made its debut in Stage 17. Colombian climber Miguel Ángel López surged away in the final kilometers to take the stage win. But the bigger drama was unfolding behind him—Primož Roglič gained precious seconds on Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian rivalry was peaking. No one knew yet that just a few days later, the Tour would flip on its head in the final time trial.
2023: The climb returned—this time in Stage 17, once again, and again with enormous consequences. On this stage, Jonas Vingegaard distanced Tadej Pogačar, effectively ending the GC battle. Pogačar, cracked and drained, waved to the camera and admitted later: “I had nothing left.” The Loze had taken another victim.