Col de la Morte (1368m)

Not as bad as it sounds!! (English translation is ‘Pass of the Dead’!). The climb starts gently just outside Valbonnais after going over the Col d’Ornon. The Col de la Morte finishes in the quiet ski resort of Alpe du Grande Serre, the last 3km being along some great alpine switchbacks

Often used as part of a 100km loop…If you want a bigger challenge, detour up the Col du Parquetout, which features the steepest slopes in the area (up to 17% in places!).

This large loop is the reverse of the first part of the ‘La Granfondo’, a 165km race held each year taking many climbs mentioned above before tackling the bottom part of Alpe D’Huez, to La Garde and onto Les Deux Alpes via the Balcons d’Auris.

Alternatively you could get to Sechilienne and begin the 16km climb from there.