Col du Grand Colombier

Col du Grand Colombier (el. 1,498 metres or 4,915 feet) is a mountain pass in the Jura mountains in France.

This pass lies at the southern extremity of the Jura in the massif of the Grand Colombier. With the Col du Chasseral, it is the highest road pass in the Jura. It passes between the Grand Colombier (el. 1,531 m (5,023 ft)) and the Croix du Colombier (1,525 m (5,003 ft)), which is accessible by trail from the pass.

The view from the summit is superb, either down the valley of the Rhône, the Lac du Bourget and the gorges of Val-de-Fier, or the distant peaks of the Alps.

Cycle racing

It is one of the most difficult passes in France, with stretches in excess of 20% on the climb from Artemare via Virieu-le-Petit on the Bugey (western) side. The ascent is 15.9 km (9.9 mi) long, gaining 1,245 m (4,085 ft) in elevation at an average gradient of 7.8%, The pass has seen frequent use in cycling, being a regular feature of the Tour de l'Ain and also used in the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de l'Avenir.

From Culoz (south), the ascent is 18.3 km (11.4 mi) long, gaining 1,255 m (4,117 ft) in elevation at an average gradient of 6.9%, but with some sections at 12%. This climb is the direction used on Stage 5 of the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné and Stage 10 of the 2012 Tour de France.

The Col can also be reached from Anglefort (east), from where it is 15.2 km (9.4 mi) in length, climbing 1,205 m (3,953 ft) at an average grade of 7.9% with maximum gradient of 14%