Col du Mollard: an iconic road in the French Alps

# Col du Mollard: Alpine Pass with Tour de France Pedigree

Nestled in the Savoie department of the French Alps, Col du Mollard sits at a respectable 1,638 meters (5,374 feet) above sea level. This is the real deal—a mountain pass that's actually made it onto the Tour de France circuit more than once, which tells you something about its credentials.

The road up is fully paved, thankfully, but don't expect a leisurely cruise. The D80 is narrow and demands respect. You'll tackle some seriously steep sections hitting 11.3% gradients that'll have your calves burning if you're on a bike. Coming from the D926-D80 junction, the climb stretches 5.7 km with 390 meters of elevation gain, averaging out to 6.8%. If you're starting from Montrond instead, you're looking at nearly identical conditions—5.69 km, 393 meters of gain, averaging 6.9%.

At the summit, there's a cute little village that transforms into a winter ski resort when the snow rolls in. The whole area is a proper Alpine playground, and you can link it up with other legendary climbs like Col de la Croix de Fer to really make a day of it.

Just watch out for the usual Alpine suspects: Le Mauvais Pass is a narrow, technical section that demands concentration, and the summit can get gnarly with water, snow, and thick fog rolling in without warning. But if you're after a genuinely memorable Alpine driving experience with some serious cycling heritage, Col du Mollard absolutely delivers.