Col des Planches – Legendary Mountain Passes

The first kilometres of climbing from Martigny are merciless: the road launches upward from the start and the slope, which reaches a gradient of 15%, never eases until Chemin-Dessous, the first village along the route. A hairpin curve will offer you a few moments to breathe and shift your attention to the impressive view over the elbow of the Rhône river and the town of Martigny below. The slope then eases up, allowing you to discover the Forclaz valley as the climb continues through larch forests. A brief flat section will give you a moment to save some energy before tackling the final hairpin bends leading to the Col des Planches.