The Haut-Giffre valley is a place of cycling pilgrimage, and Samoëns is its high altar. Whether you are chasing the ghosts of the 2023 Tour de France or testing your mettle against the savage gradients of the Giffre massif, this region demands a specific blend of grit and gear.
At Borne Cycling, we’ve spent years mapping these roads. We don’t just ride them; we know the reality of these climbs. Here is our guide to the legendary Joux Plane and the hidden gems surrounding our Alpine base.
The Legend: Col de Joux Plane
In 2023, the Tour de France ignited these slopes, and we were there at the roadside to witness the spectacle. Just a week prior, we had been stationed on the same tarmac to encourage a group of friends tackling the Étape du Tour.
It was a day defined by infernal conditions. By the time the riders reached us—barely a quarter of the way up the final ascent—the temperature was soaring into the high 30s. Even for the pros, the Joux Plane is a beast at the best of times, but after 100km of racing in that furnace, it became a battle of attrition.
The Borne Strategy: We did what we could to mitigate the heat, handing out tights filled with ice for riders to drape over their necks and passing out cold Cokes. We even recruited a local household to turn their garden hose into a makeshift cooling station for every rider passing by.
If you’re tackling the Joux Plane solo, take our advice: ride it early. By the afternoon, the south-facing tarmac acts as a heat sink. Despite the forest cover on the second half, the trees offer zero shade against the midday sun. Your reward for the early start is the iconic view of the Massif du Mont Blanc, which only improves as you climb through the hamlets and meadows. You’ll need those visual rewards to distract you from the “savage gradients” that define the mid-section.
The final kilometer, where the road contours toward the summit, is hallowed ground—the exact spot where Pogačar and Vingegaard found themselves blocked by the fervor of the crowds and motorbikes. Once at the top, hop off the bike. Take a moment to wander around the small lake and watch the Mont Blanc range reflect in the still waters.
Three Essential Cycling Routes from Samoëns
1. The Alpine Introduction: Cirque du Fer à Cheval
42km | 763m D+
A perfect morning spin. Leaving Samoëns toward Morillon, we take a tactical left toward Samoëns 1600 before veering onto a super quiet backroad via Les Esserts. It’s a peaceful, shaded climb to the Morillon 1100 ski station. After descending back to the valley floor, the route heads toward the Gorges-des-Tines and the village of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
Stop at Boulangerie Tiffanie for a quick refreshment before the final ramp into the Cirque. There’s no entry fee for bikes, so roll right in, count the waterfalls, and grab a coffee at the Chalet before the descent back to the Samoëns market square.
2. A Big Day Out: Rond, Encrenaz, and Joux Verte
84.5km | 2,520m D+
We warm up on the D907 to Taninges before hitting the Rond (D307), a brilliant, quiet alternative to the high-traffic road to Les Gets. From the Praz de Lys junction, the gradient ramps up sharply before dropping you into the meadows of the Col d’Encrenaz.
After a technical descent behind Mont Chéry, you’ll climb the Col de Joux Verte through the famous “Goat Village” of Les Lindarets. The hairpins above Avoriaz are pure joy on the descent.
To finish, you’ll tackle the Joux Plane from the Morzine side. It’s “sting-in-the-tail” territory: a sharp ramp over the Col du Ranfolly before a steady final push to the Relais des Vallées for a well-earned cold drink.
3. The Pure Sufferfest: Plateau des Saix (Samoëns 1600)
28km | 973m D+
If the Joux Plane isn’t enough, the Plateau des Saix is the ultimate local test. A “real brute” of a climb, it featured in the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné, where Primož Roglič took the stage win.
The worst of it starts after Vercland, where the gradient refuses to drop below 10% for a grueling 3.5km stretch. Overall, you’re looking at 10km at a 9.2% average. We recommend riding this once a year—just long enough to forget the discomfort and feel the need to challenge yourself again.
Ready to ride?
At Borne Cycling, we have just released a new tour incorporating the Gran Fondo Samoëns sportive and riding all of the above mountains and more. You can find out all about that trip over at our Gran Fondo Samoëns page
