Col de la Loze

Col de la Loze is in Les Trois Vallées, at an elevation of 2,304 metres (7,559 ft).[1][2] From Col de la Loze, one can ski to the nearby La Tania,[3][4] and Le Praz.[4] By chairlift, one can get from Col de la Loze to Courchevel and Méribel, and by button lift, one can get to La Tania.[5] From Col de la Loze, one can also cycle to Lac Bleu.[6]

A path up the Col de la Loze was built in 2018[2] and was officially opened on 12 May 2019.[2] On the official opening day, there was still snow on the mountain,[7] and it was the first French mountain pass to be cleared of snow.[2] Vehicles are not permitted on the path.[8] The path is paved on the side toward Courchevel, and unpaved on the side toward Méribel.[8] The path links Col de la Loze to Courchevel, and there are future plans to link the mountain path to Méribel, and continue the path to Val Thorens.[2] It is the seventh-highest mountain pass in France,[1] and the third-highest mountain pass in the Savoie region.[8]

On 12 May 2019, the Col de la Loze held the Eiffage time trial event to commemorate its opening.[7][9] There were 2 races: one over a distance of 22.7 kilometres (14.1 mi), and one over a shorter distance of 8.6 kilometres (5.3 mi).[9]

The first professional cycle race to ascend to Col de la Loze was stage 8 of the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir.[10] The stage was won by Australia's Alexander Evans.[10] Col de la Loze is expected to be the summit finish for stage 17 of the 2020 Tour de France.[10] The stage includes an ascent of the Col de la Madeleine, which was not in the Tour de l'Avenir stage.[1][10] The climb up to Col de la Loze is 21.5 kilometres (13.4 mi) long, with an average gradient of 7.5%.[10] The route follows a route formerly used by a 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) mechanical ski lift.[11] The ascent starts in Brides-les-Bains and passes through Méribel, before turning onto the new path up to Col de la Loze.[12] The finish point is the highest point of the 2020 Tour.[12] Col de la Loze is one of two new summit finishes at the Tour, the other one being Grand Colombier.[1]