The col de Tougnète, one of the most formidable climbs in the Alps

A young pass already ranked among the most demanding climbs

The col de Tougnète was created in 2022. The route starts at Moûtiers. Its final 6.9 km, ridable by bike from Les Menuires, have an average gradient above 6.5%, with sections exceeding 20%. According to benchmark indices compiled by Climbfinder, the climb is harder than established Alpine passes such as the col de la Loze and the col du Galibier.

Tougnète versus the Loze: a duel in numbers

The col de Tougnète differs markedly from the col de la Loze, another benchmark climb in Savoie. The summit of the col de Tougnète stands at 2,403 m, compared with 2,303 m for the Loze. In length, the Tougnète climb runs for 30 km, against 22.5 km for the Loze.

The Loze's average gradient, at 7.6%, is steeper than Tougnète's, at 6.5%. The picture reverses on the steepest section, however: Tougnète's steepest 100 metres reach 20.5%, against 15.7% for the Loze. The vertical drop stands at 1,958 m for Tougnète, against 1,717 m for the Loze. According to the Climbfinder difficulty index, the col de Tougnète scores 1,672, against 1,432 for the Loze.

Les Menuires, a hub for high-altitude cycling

Les Menuires has dedicated cycling routes for road cyclists, mountain bikers and e-bike users. The resort forms part of a year-round tourism offer within Les 3 Vallées ski area.

Marlène Giacometti, director of the Les Menuires tourist office, describes the ambition behind the pass: "The col de Tougnète perfectly embodies our ambition to develop high-altitude cycling that is demanding yet accessible, at the heart of the vast open spaces of Les 3 Vallées."

Cycling events around the pass

Several cycling events are held around the col de Tougnète and the Belleville area. These include the Objectif Tougnète race, La Montée des Belleville, Le Re Tour des Belleville, and an event linking Saint-Martin-de-Belleville to the col de Tougnète.

Key points

1. The col de Tougnète, created in 2022, runs for 30 km with almost 2,000 m of vertical drop, between Les Menuires and Méribel.
2. In July 2025, Eurosport ranked the climb among the ten hardest ever considered by the Tour de France.
3. The final 6.9 km from Les Menuires have an average gradient of more than 6.5%, with sections exceeding 20%.
4. According to the Climbfinder difficulty index, the col de Tougnète (1,672) is harder than the col de la Loze (1,432).
5. Several cycling races, including Objectif Tougnète, are held in the area around the pass and the Belleville area.