{{short description|Mountain pass in the French Alps}} {{Use British English|date=March 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Col de la Loze | pronunciation = | image = Coldelaloze jaro.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = Mountain top with some snow | image_caption = | map = Alps | map_image = | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Col de la Loze | map_relief = | map_size = | location = Savoie, France | label = | label_position = | elevation_m = 2304 | range = French Alps | coordinates = {{coord|45|24|18|N|6|36|07|E}} | coordinates_ref = }}
The '''Col de la Loze''' is a mountain pass in the French Alps, with an elevation of {{convert|2304|m|ft}}. A path up the mountain was opened in May 2019, and is the seventh-highest mountain pass in France. The ascent featured in the 2020, 2023, and 2025 Tours de France, as well as in the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir.
==Geography== [[File:MERIBEL.jpg|thumb|left|Méribel is a village on the Col de la Loze mountain pass.|alt=Snow covered wooden chalets with mountains in the background.]]
Col de la Loze is in Les Trois Vallées, at an elevation of {{convert|2304|m|ft}}.<ref name=CN>{{cite web| url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-2020-route-revealed/| title=Tour de France 2020 route revealed| last=Farrand| first=Stephen| publisher=Cyclingnews.com| date=15 October 2019| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=FB>{{cite news| url=http://francebleu.fr/infos/climat-environnement/une-nouvelle-route-d-altitude-dediee-aux-cyclistes-a-courchevel-1557246683| title=Une nouvelle route d'altitude dédiée aux cyclistes à Courchevel| language=fr|last=Gallotti| first=Annabelle| work=France Bleu| date=12 May 2019| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref> From Col de la Loze, one can ski to the nearby La Tania,<ref>{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LiKXumGWCXEC| title= Snow-Finder France| last1=Coxen| first1=Adam| last2=Hutchinson| first2=Hugh| last3=Goring| first3=Jeremy| publisher=Wavefinder Limited| date=2005| page=183| isbn= 978-0-9581726-9-1}}</ref><ref name=Leocha>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c9ninom1H_UC| title=Ski Snowboard Europe| last=Leocha| first=Charles| publisher=World Leisure Corporation| date=2007| isbn=978-0-915009-86-2}}</ref> and Le Praz.<ref name=Leocha/> By chairlift, one can get from Col de la Loze to Courchevel and Méribel, and by button lift, one can get to La Tania.<ref name=LTV>{{cite web| url=https://www.les3vallees.com/en/live/slopes-opening-les-3-vallees/| title=Les 3 Vallées Openings/Closings of Slopes and Lifts Live Timing| publisher=Les Trois Vallées| accessdate=26 March 2020| archive-date=26 March 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326183719/https://www.les3vallees.com/en/live/slopes-opening-les-3-vallees/| url-status=dead}}</ref> From Col de la Loze, one can also cycle to {{ill|Lac Bleu (Saint-François-Longchamp)|lt=Lac Bleu|fr}}.<ref>{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-22fDwAAQBAJ| title= Alpes 2019/2020 Petit Futé| language=fr| last1=Auzias| first1=Dominique| last2=Labourdette| first2=Jean-Paul|publisher=Le Petit Futé| date=2019| isbn= 978-2-305-01410-4}}</ref>
A path up the Col de la Loze was built in 2018<ref name=FB/> and was officially opened on 12 May 2019.<ref name=FB/> On the official opening day, there was still snow on the mountain,<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ski/news/european-ski-resorts-continue-to-battle-with-walls-of-snow/| title= Ski resorts battle with walls of snow in rush to clear roads for summer| last=Aspden| first=Lucy| work=The Daily Telegraph| url-access=subscription| date=6 June 2019| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref> and it was the first French mountain pass to be cleared of snow.<ref name=FB/> Motor vehicles are not permitted on the path.<ref name=LDL/> The path is paved on the side toward Courchevel.<ref name=LDL/> The path links Col de la Loze to Courchevel, and in 2020 was paved on the side to Méribel. There are future plans to continue the path to Val Thorens.<ref name=FB/> It is the seventh-highest mountain pass in France,<ref name=CN/> and the third-highest mountain pass in the Savoie region.<ref name=LDL>{{cite news| url= https://www.ledauphine.com/savoie/2018/10/08/le-col-de-la-loze-nouvel-itineraire-cycliste-a-2-300-m| title= Col de la Loze : nouvel itinéraire cycliste| language=fr| work=Le Dauphiné libéré| date=8 October 2018| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref>
==Cycling== While there are multiple routes to get to the Col de la Loze, the climb through Meribel is the most notorious, and at {{clarify|text=14.1 FIETS|date=July 2025}} is the hardest bike climb in France.<ref>{{cite web |title=France - Top Bike Climbs |url=https://pjammcycling.com/zone/61.France |website=PJAMMcycling.com |publisher=PJAMM Cycling}}</ref> The climb averages a 7.5% gradient for {{convert|22.6|km|mi}} gaining nearly 1700 metres.<ref>{{cite web |title=Col de la Loze Bike Climb: Cycling the French Alps |url=https://pjammcycling.com/climb/1703.Col-de-la-Loze-Meribel;mode=Stats |website=pjammcycling.com |publisher=PJAMM Cycling}}</ref>
On 12 May 2019, the Col de la Loze held the Eiffage time trial event to commemorate its opening.<ref name=Telegraph/><ref name=LDL2>{{cite news| url= https://www.ledauphine.com/actualite/2019/05/14/premiere-course-cycliste-a-2-304-metres-d-altitude-au-col-de-la-loze| title= Première course cycliste au "nouveau" col de la Loze| language=fr| work=Le Dauphiné libéré| date=14 May 2019| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref> There were 2 races: one over a distance of {{convert|22.7|km|mi}}, and one over a shorter distance of {{convert|8.6|km|mi}}.<ref name=LDL2/>
The first professional cycle race to ascend to Col de la Loze was stage 8 of the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir.<ref name=Velo>{{cite magazine| url= https://www.velonews.com/2019/10/events/tour-de-france/new-giant-of-the-alps-could-play-kingmaker-in-2020-tour_501808| title=New giant of the Alps could play kingmaker in 2020 Tour| last=Hood| first=Andrew| magazine=VeloNews| date=17 October 2019| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref> The stage was won by Australia's Alexander Evans.<ref name=Velo/>
===Appearances in Tour de France=== Col de la Loze was the summit finish for stage 17 of the 2020 Tour de France,<ref name=Velo/> which was won by Colombian rider Miguel Ángel López.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/54182385| title= Tour de France stage 17: Miguel Angel Lopez wins, Primoz Roglic stretches lead| work=BBC Sport| date=16 September 2020| accessdate=16 September 2020}}</ref> The stage included an ascent of the Col de la Madeleine, which was not in the Tour de l'Avenir stage.<ref name=CN/><ref name=Velo/> The climb up to Col de la Loze was {{convert|21.5|km|mi}} long, with an average gradient of 7.5%<ref name=Velo/> and a maximum gradient of 24%.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-riders-react-just-how-hard-was-the-col-de-la-loze-468720| title= Tour de France riders react: Just how hard was the Col de la Loze| publisher= Cycling Weekly| date=16 September 2020| accessdate= 16 September 2020}}</ref> The route followed the former path of a {{convert|7|km|mi}} ski lift access road used by mechanics.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Newly-announced-Tour-de-France-2020-route-includes-crazy-new-Meribel-summit| title= Tour de France 2020 route includes 'crazy' new summit| work=The Connexion| date=15 October 2019| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref> The ascent started in Brides-les-Bains and passed through Méribel, before turning onto the new path up to Col de la Loze.<ref name=BR>{{cite web| url= https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tour-de-france-climbs/| title=8 key climbs from the 2020 Tour de France: Epic ascents to watch or ride| last=Henrys| first=Colin| publisher=Bike Radar| date=18 October 2019| accessdate=26 March 2020}}</ref> The finish point was the highest point of the 2020 Tour.<ref name=BR/> Col de la Loze was one of two new summit finishes at the Tour, the other one being Grand Colombier.<ref name=CN/> It featured again in the 2023 edition, with the finish taking place at the Courchevel Altiport,<ref name="cw_route">{{cite news |last1=Backet |first1=Adam |date=2 July 2023 |title=Tour de France 2023 route: Every stage of the 110th edition in detail |work=Cycling Weekly |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/tour-de-france-2023-route-announced-five-summit-finishes-and-one-time-trial-on-the-menu-for-the-men |access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref> and next appeared in the 2025 Tour de France, being won by Ben O'Connor.<ref>{{Cite web |title= 2025 112th Tour de France (2.UWT), Stage 18, Vif-›Courchevel (Col de la Loze) (171.5km) |url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2025/stage-18 |access-date=2025-07-24}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Year !Stage !Category !Start !Finish !Leader at the summit |- |2020 |17|17 |HC |Grenoble |Méribel (Col de la Loze) |{{Flagathlete|Miguel Ángel López|COL}} |- |2023 |17 |HC |Saint-Gervais-les-Bains |Courchevel |{{Flagathlete|Felix Gall|AUT}} |- |2025 |18 |HC |Vif |Courchevel (Col de la Loze) |{{Flagathlete|Ben O'Connor|AUS}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Ski areas and resorts in France Category:Tourist attractions in Savoie Category:Mountain passes of the Alps Category:Climbs in cycle racing in France Category:Courchevel