The numbers for Day 2 of the Gran Fondo Samoëns aren’t just intimidating; they’re borderline disrespectful. If Day 1 was the opening act, Day 2 is the full-blown alpine opera. We’re talking 155km with a staggering 4,300m of vertical gain.
By now, your legs will be heavy, your kit might be slightly salt-crusted, and your mental fortitude will be the most important part of your setup. If you didn’t maximize your recovery last night, the road is about to find you out.
The Cold Start: Morillon and Les Esserts
The day begins at the Lac aux Dames in Samoëns, but the “neutralized” luxury of yesterday is gone. The road tilts up almost immediately. You’re looking at a short, sharp shock up to Les Esserts and the Morillon ski station.
The Strategy: Do not—we repeat, do not—try to win the race in the first 10km. There are steep ramps here that can put you in the red before your heart rate monitor even wakes up. Stay within your limits; you have a massive day of climbing ahead.
Finding Rhythm: Col de Plaine Joux
After a 30km transition where you should be hunting for a cohesive group to save watts, you’ll hit the Col de Plaine Joux (not to be confused with yesterday’s Joux Plane). This is a “rhythm” climb: 12 kilometers at a steady 6%.
The plateau at the top offers a feed station and—if the clouds play nice—a world-class view of the Mont Blanc massif. Take a bottle, grab a gel, and enjoy the vista, because the profile after the descent to Onnion is enough to make any climber’s eyes water.
The Hidden Gem: Sommet d’Andey
From Saint-Jeoire, the real battle begins. You still have 90km and five summits between you and the finish. The standout for us is the Sommet d’Andey. Reaching 1,100m, this is one of those “local secrets”—a quiet, narrow ribbon of tarmac that feels miles away from the main valley.
It’s a highlight of the route, but don’t get too comfortable. You’ll drop a few hundred meters of elevation only to immediately pivot into the climb toward Mont Saxonnex. It’s short, but with yesterday’s 3,800m still sitting in your quads, every percentage point of gradient feels doubled.
The Balcony Road: Araches-les-Frasses
After descending into the Arve valley, you begin the ascent toward Araches-les-Frasses. This is actually the lower section of the monstrous Col de Pierre Carré, but thankfully, you’ll peel off after 6km. The road hugs the limestone cliffs, ducking under massive rock overhangs with views plunging down toward Sallanches.
What follows is pure cycling cinema: a “balcony road” toward Chatillon. It’s the perfect place to mentally reset before the final showdown.
The Final Boss: Plateau des Saix (Samoëns 1600)
“Almost there” are the most dangerous words in cycling. The run back to Samoëns is flat and fast – use it to fuel aggressively. You are about to face the climb to the Plateau des Saix, a climb that many locals (ourselves included) consider even more brutal than the Joux Plane.
- The Entry: A sharp right-hand turn snaps you into a steep pitch and immediate hairpins.
- The Crux: Once you pass the chapel in Vercland, the gloves come off. The gradient screams north of 10% for a 3km stretch.
- The Finale: It doesn’t drop below 9% until you spot the Club Med hotel with 3km to go. The road eventually ducks under the ski piste with 1,000m to the line.
The Borne Verdict
If you cross this finish line, you’ve conquered one of the toughest two-day events in the Alps. Period.
If this sounds like a “bridge too far,” the Medio Fondo options are equally spectacular. Day 1 (85km/3,000m) and Day 2 (117km/3,200m) still feature the “greatest hits” of the region without having to go the full distance of the Gran Fondo. Even our team is looking at those Medio profiles with a lot of respect depending on how the spring training miles go!
Ready to tackle the Alps with a full support crew? Check out our tour for all the details for our 6-night Gran Fondo Samoëns trip
