Cycling the Col de la Croix Fry from Annecy

Annecy is a great place to base yourself for a cycling holiday. There is a great range of cycling routes to explore ranging from cycle paths around the lake to challenging climbs used by the Tour de France.

With this route, you have the choice of cycling the Col de la Croix Fry in either direction once you reach the town of Thones. The Tour de France tackled this mountain pass in the 2018 edition from the anti-clockwise direction. Regardless of which approach you take, with just under 1500m/5000ft of climbing this ride will prove a great day out on the bike.

Suggested cycling route

Food and water

There are several points along this route to resupply with food and water. These include the village of Thones which is at the base of the climb. There are also services available at the summit and also at La Clusaz.

Col de la Croix Fry (clockwise)

Length: 18.8km / 11.7mi

Average gradient: 4.5%

Start point: Thones

Elevation at top: 1,467m / 4,813

Col de la Croix Fry

Length: 13.4km / 8.3mi

Average gradient: 4.5%

Start point: Thones

Elevation at top: 1,467m / 4,813

Discover our comprehensive guide to Cycling in the French Alps

This ride is just one of many great cycling routes near the city of Annecy which you can enjoy. This area of the French Alps is very popular with cyclists year-round owing to the great weather and variety of terrain on offer.

If you are not familiar with this region then, our comprehensive guide will help you plan everything you need for your cycling holiday. The guide includes information such as:

• a map of the French Alps with climbs and towns marked
• where to base yourself whist on your cycling holiday
• cycling hotels and lodges
• bike hire outlets
• getting to and from Annecy
• non-cycling attractions and activities in the region

Click here to see a list of cycling routes available from Annecy. Our cycling route suggestions start in Annecy as we know from experience the majority of people visiting the area will stay in, or close to the city.

Author

Stephen

Stephen is an avid cycling enthusiast who enjoys various forms of cycling, including road cycling, cycle touring, mountain biking, and gravel riding. For more than a decade, he has been travelling to France for cycling holidays and has recently settled in the French Pyrenees. Having extensive experience in travelling with his bike, Stephen has learned how to navigate the logistics of transporting bikes via planes, trains, cars, and shipping methods.