Col de la Loze (Méribel) - Final climb of Stage 17 of the 2023 Tour de France.

First featured in the 2020 Tour de France the Col de la Loze is definitely the new kid on the block with a fearsome reputation. From the valley you're faced with a long ascent, well over 25 kilometres in length, however it's when the road narrows and is closed to cars when things really start to get spicy.
7 kilometres at an average 10% may not sound like anything out of the ordinary but the Loze hasn't gained the reputation for being a relentless and unpredictable beast for nothing. Forever ducking and diving it's impossible to find a rhythm as the Loze takes control, and with gradients of 20% this is anything but the regular Alpine pass we've come to know and love.
Start: Méribel
Length: 7km
Summit: 2,304mm
Elevation Gain: 661m
Average Gradient: 10%
Max Gradient: 20%
I'm very proud to release this video, the turn around time to travel, self film and edit in just over a week has been intense. There were multiple all night editing sessions pulled to get it out before the Tour de France. If you enjoyed it please do me a solid and like, comment, share and subscribe to the channel :)
Thanks to Exposure Lights and Ultimate Components for throwing a few coppers into the pot. Overall funding is pretty low right now so if you'd like to make a donation then hit the heart under the video to become a superfan and help keep this content coming.
Thanks for joining me today, until the next time, ride safe!
Mike
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[@fredcouture1158]

The Cow Collective was ready for your attempt You know cows in the mountains are the biggest cycling fans ever !

[@TheColCollective]

The biggest and the best! 🐮

[@titocaroli]

Cows in a climb, is a sign of great climb 😅

[@davidmoore6047]

Another brilliant video Mike! Your videos played a big part in me stopping dreaming about cycling the Pyrenees and pulling the finger out and finally doing it.

[@TheColCollective]

So, so, good to hear! Thank you for your donation! 🐮🙏🏻

[@tomchunchu]

Col Collective videos are what inspired me to start climbing, and I am so happy that new ones are being released. The new format is quite enjoyable; the video looks and sounds better than ever, while at the same time adding a healthy dose of personal touch. Looking forward to see more.

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you. So happy you’re enjoying them!

[@LifoGifo]

Cheers Mike, I only realized how much I missed your videos when you recently came back after all those years. Also, I love the new style of your videos, really chill yet very entertaining and informative!

[@TheColCollective]

Super happy you’re enjoying the new style and vids. More (cows) on the way! 🐮

[@MrColnagoCLX]

Love it Mike - drone, bike cam, road POV - these films are really evolving - I also re-watch all your older climbs as I do them - I did Ventoux twice in June 2023 and watched your film many times beforehand. You are inspirational - cheers!

[@LGB2764]

Thank you once again for a great video. Best wishes!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your kind support 🙏🏻🐮

[@Chreeeys]

I just love that you are back with these videos!

[@TheColCollective]

Really happy to hear this. Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@virginiecb3790]

Fantastic video showcasing this epic climb and the beautiful mountains. I'm from there and miss it terribly.

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much.

[@jamespowell708]

Great to have you back with fantastic videos. Col de la Loze is now on the hit list for a future trip!

[@TheColCollective]

Massive thank you for your support James! Happy your hit list is getting filled up! 🏔️

[@maxbroomsmith831]

I just did the col de la loz yesterday without any training. I’m a tennis player. Hands down the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in sport and I train 4 hours per day for tennis.

[@garethbater6900]

Great video - skiing down it is fun - that looks so hard on bike

[@TheColCollective]

Definitely easier going down!!!!

[@ionutdragan116]

I was thinking about Col de la Loze can be in one of your video and here it is. Great job !

[@TheColCollective]

Great minds think alike!! ☺️

[@jimmytooshoes]

Fab video Mike. A lot of work putting it together. Thank you

[@TheColCollective]

Definitely a few hours gone into this one. Well worth it though!

[@mdk9495]

As always, an entertaining and educational video. Thanks Mike

[@TheColCollective]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andygrimmer5742]

Awesome when these drop in my feed, another excellent video. Thanks Mike

[@TheColCollective]

You’re very welcome!

[@Juan1985g]

Awesome video. Keep it up!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much!

[@deamon2107]

This is why we Ride! Indeed.

[@TheColCollective]

…..plus the cows 🐮

[@recrevs963]

thanks so much for posting videos again. i really enjoy the format, description and tips you cover here. i remember a couple a years ago you covered that short TdF over peyragudes and it came in very handy when i watched the tour few weeks after, then some of the iconic european climbs or independence pass in colorado are just epic. hopefully one day i can try some of the ones you covered and if i do i would look for tips in these videos!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your appreciation. I’m so glad you find the videos useful 🙏🏻🐮

[@bbonnar1]

Excellent vid Mike. Inspiring for sure. Now on the ever growing bucket list

[@TheColCollective]

Thanks so much 🙏🏻

[@ibzit2]

Love the small details on your cannondale 👌🏽.. And then such an epic, and inspiring video You give us the motivation to climb.. There's something special about mountains ❤!

[@TheColCollective]

Absolutely! The mountains hold the key to many answers we ask ourselves for in life. 🏔️

[@derrickllewellyn1465]

Cheers Mike. Another great inspiring film 👍

[@TheColCollective]

Glad you enjoyed it! 🐮

[@40mes]

Very nice, thank you! In planning a cycling trip to France we have watched many of your videos which have proven tremendously useful. We are now wondering how to fit Col de la Loze into our itinerary.

[@ad9898]

Another outstanding, inspirational video, awesome Mike!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you. Super happy you enjoyed it!

[@TheCodar]

God I missed your videos. So inspiring. ❤

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@WowRixter]

Wow stunning. Another great video Mike. Very inspiring

[@TheColCollective]

Glad you enjoyed it! 🐮

[@ivanblancovilar]

Hey hey, great video as usual Mike! Loved the Mango smile 😁

[@TheColCollective]

Can you tell breakfast is my favourite meal of the day? 😊

[@robertprestel]

Absolutely great !! Well done!!

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@reika1104]

criminally underrated channel, luv ur works. Please don't stop making them, Mike. Regards

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your appreciation. New video coming soon! 🤞🏼🐮

[@garethjones3806]

Loved the subliminal encouragement in the last 5 seconds of the video. Nice touch. Love that you are back. Quality as good as ever with a refreshed feel and style. Long term subscriber and fan. It is indeed, why we ride. 👍

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your appreciation Gareth. I’m glad you liked the subliminal message at the end. I find sometimes a little bit of encouragement can go a long way. Often we can achieve more than we may realise. Thanks for being a long-term supporter. So happy you’re along for the ride! 🐮

[@davidsullivan7290]

Nice to have you back making videos, Mike.

[@TheColCollective]

Really good to be back!

[@jean-mariebergeal3458]

Thanks!

[@TheColCollective]

Huge thank you for your support 🙏🏻🐮

[@alexbennett2709]

Mike, great to have you back and making great videos. Thanks. I rode this last week! A great climb.

[@TheColCollective]

Great to be back!! How did you like the climb??

[@alexbennett2709]

@@TheColCollective It was brilliant, the sense of achievement after getting to the top of this climb after over 5000m of climbing and a 170km day of riding and getting to my hotel before the rain. The last 4KM are so tough with the double digit gradients. Brilliant!!

[@cyclingchantal]

One for the bucket list

[@TheColCollective]

100% 🐮

[@BobMcKerrell]

Sooo happy when you put up a new vid. Cheers man !🚴

[@TheColCollective]

You’re welcome!

[@Greg.Sutton]

Another good one Mike. Thanks so much for picking this up again and doing video's. Col de la Loze area is on my list. I often think of this valley area as the forgotten valley of the TDF as they do not seem to use it that much. My first memory of the TDF is 1987 and this area - that famous "It's Stephen Roche" moment on La Plagne.

[@TheColCollective]

What a moment that was from ‘87! Seeing Roche on the floor on oxygen after the summit! Unbelievable!

[@janemorison7822]

We rode the first climb of this stage, Col des Saisies, at this year's Tour, then rode back to the chalet to watch the rest of the stage. What a brutal finish after an already brutal stage! Thanks for this great video. You're whetting my appetite for more!

[@TheColCollective]

Such a monster of a mountain, it was absolutely bonkers on the roadside that day!

[@joffbrown]

Great to see you back just watched last 3 videos why’ll no cross trainer great videos more please

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you for your appreciation Joff 🙏🏻🐮

[@carboncrank2250]

Thanks for another video, this will help with the 5am trainer sess for the race this weekend. Let me know if you ever want to tour South Florida. It's flat here 😆

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your support! 🙏🏻

[@massimobotter9901]

Bellissimo!!!!!

[@iainpatrick6]

Thanks

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your support 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@HD-yq9jx]

Shame how can I be the 383th viewer😡. Great work as usual, I highly appreciate it because it is self-filmed. Thanks for the effort you put in the video. I watch your videos everyday sometimes repeatedly(since 2017), your videos really inspire me and helps me to continue to the next day (a daily rider turning 59 in few months and completely fed up of .........)

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you for your appreciation. I hope to have more videos coming to help keep you inspired. Take care 🙏🏻

[@reneh.8817]

Great and inspiring video! Thanks, Mike! I was up there in 2021 and also this year beginning of June. This climb is nasty and beautiful in one. It will be a killer next week in the TDF.

[@TheColCollective]

It’s hard to imagine racing up it! And the riders in the Tour have a nasty technical descent off the top. That’s gonna be really sketchy!!!

[@trdi]

Especially since the stage has over 5000 meters of climbing.

[@aoe76]

Loved the Danish flag on the road. Lovely video Mike❤️. Hopefully i have a countryman that will get the job done later today when the riders enter the thin air. You have inspired me a lot and my bike is allways with me on nowadays when we travel south to the mountains.

[@TheColCollective]

So good to hear!!! Vive le Tour!!

[@markrushton1516]

Great details on that bike. Wouldn't want to do that climb in the rain but what a route. Some great riding in the Isere valley so this is like the icing on the cake

[@TheColCollective]

Such a great area! Looking forward to exploring more!!

[@markrushton1516]

Climbs to Valmorel or over the Madeleine or down the valley to Bourg and either the Iseran or over to Italy or the Cormet. Lot of content there.

[@delivrance3961]

gorgeous!!!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you!! 🙏🏻

[@leightondavies8884]

Sat here grinning like a fool - I’ve ski’d there a shed load of times but never ridden - the top section was the Blue easy run down to Meribel where you had to be dead quiet on times due to avalanche risk -- makes me want to get out there on 2 wheels now and enjoy a cold one on the top 🍺

[@TheColCollective]

Whoaa! So cool!!!! Trade ribose winter skis for summer wheels and get a whole new perspective. Spoiler alert, it’s painful!! 😂

[@metal86220]

The vidéo is really nice lot of nice view and great informations

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@philstannard5563]

Did a 10km time trial up this from Meribel in the Haute Route Alps last August. Easily the hardest thing I’ve ever climbed. Savage climb.

[@TheColCollective]

Whoaaaa! TT is next level!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@ciarandinsmore879]

BEAUTIFUL! Just wow! It’s stuff like this that make me proud to be a cyclist.

[@TheColCollective]

That’s really kind, I’m glad it makes you feel that way!! 🤍

[@vioseven3799]

you got my like and subscribe

[@TheColCollective]

Thanks for your support!

[@johannespopp3336]

Mike is back with a stunner 🎉😮

[@TheColCollective]

☺️🐮

[@paulsampson7918]

Awesome, literally!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you!

[@boethiusm8438]

This guy is just class

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻

[@tds456]

Believe in yourself, you can do it!

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🤍

[@suadmahmutovic6542]

This is great content 😊

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you for your appreciation 🫶🏼

[@marcusjohnsson4882]

Tack!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻🐮

[@n.w.vandiemendejel6159]

Inspiring, thanx

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@sierraseb3311]

Awesome ! Your aerial footage is superior to the Tour's. Gorgeous. Thanks

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much, it means a lot to me 🙏🏻

[@petert4032]

Great video Mike! Probably the most apt climb to figure out whether it will be Pogacar or Vingegaard for the TDF

[@TheColCollective]

It’s gonna be a battle royale next week at the Tour!!!!

[@lasselubbersmann9441]

Danke!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your support 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@micky30335]

Bueatiful video brother ,bravo😀

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@yendoradon7836]

The 1 % inspiration needed for the 99% perspiration 😊

[@TheColCollective]

Oh yes!!!!

[@matthewrowlands5793]

Great to see new content from the Col Collective, truly awe inspiring! How is the new Supersix riding Mike? 👌🏻😎

[@TheColCollective]

New bike is going great! Christened in the high mountains now!! 💪🏼

[@goldenretriever6261]

Cool van. Wish we had vans like that in Canada.

[@TheColCollective]

Thanks!!!

[@goldenretriever6261]

@@TheColCollective I just saw one of those vans today here in Canada, with France licence plates. What a coincidence

[@robertservranckx]

Awesome video, Mike! So happy to see The Col Collective vidéos again. (This begs the question as to whether you’ll still be participating in Wahoo SYSTM stuff? Hope so!)

[@TheColCollective]

Still gonna be On Location! 🐮

[@casalsmatthieu9338]

Hello ! nice video ! have you scheduled to climb the Col du Granon in the alps soon ? Thank you :)

[@TheColCollective]

Good suggestion!!!

[@leemoores9532]

Me and my wife love this video as skiers and fanatics of the 3V. What is the song played between 2:15 and 3:15 please? Thanks in advance

[@trdi]

It's funny to watch this video with my legs still being sore, as I did this climb yesterday, from home. :) Fortunately my trainer supports up to 25%, so I had the pleasure to enjoy all the spikes. I have never seen a climb like this, the spiking completely destroyed me (and of course to get to the car free part, you have to do a pretty decent climb, so that all counts). Usually climbs are made for cars, stable gradient, sometimes unbelievably stable gradient. But this road is not for cars, so it feels like a madman made it, not a military or a civilian engineer. Are there any other similar climbs? A question about gradient - how certain are you about those you quote? Because my training software got above 20% probably around 15 times (and 3 times above 22%, with max being 23.7%) so now I'm wondering is it maybe harder than in real life. They measured the climb with better equipment than we have on our bikes so... Mostly I found interesting that you never complained about gradient while still in the woods and there are some tough spikes there as well from my memory. The hardest 5 km section is 10.5% and the hardest 1 km sections I have as 12.2% and 11.6%.

[@TheColCollective]

Great info! I wonder how close it is to the real climb? Such a beast!!! I saw plenty of 19’s and 20’s. Gonna be fireworks at the Tour next week!

[@christopherthomas3403]

Which app did you use? I think it's on my Open Road, but I've not plucked up the courage to try this one yet. 🙂

[@trdi]

@@christopherthomas3403 Tacx (under Garmin now).

[@willshaughnessy8515]

Brilliant Mike. I moved from.the Rockies to the desert ..so now i ride mt lemmon a few times a week Have you tried this one,? Its long ,not steep but the temps at 42c is brutal..would love to ride in french domaine..spent years in northern italy ..but never made it over..in place of cows we had sheep ..now here in the desert its reptiles.. Nice ride btw .. I have an older Pegoretti.. Stay well..

[@TheColCollective]

Super awesome! I’ve heard a lot about Mt Lemmon but haven’t ridden it yet…..one day!!! Thanks for your support!

[@willshaughnessy8515]

@TheColCollective today a,balmy 45..it's like riding in an oven..literally a curry in a hurry tandoori

[@jean-mariebergeal3458]

Beautiful and remarkably well done. Thanks! Ps: what gearing?

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much. For gearing I used 36x34t, but if you can get an even smaller gear then do it!! 🐮

[@user-eg4be2jv6y]

I did and enjoyed every millimeter

[@Phaidrus]

Sexy Cannondale + Mavic setup! What size cassette and chainrings are you using?

[@TheColCollective]

36 up front 34 on the rear 👍🏼

[@gesp5151]

I did it 10 days ago - well until the derailleur hanger snapped with 1km to go! As he says it’s all the stuff above the town. It’s like doing Alpe d’H followed by Hardknott pass. But it is brilliant

[@trdi]

I'm curious - do you think that's good or bad? Because I don't like Alp d'Huez because it's so "touristy" and for same reason I don't like the first half of this climb. The second half is great.

[@TheColCollective]

Ahhh shucks. What a place for a mechanical. I guess the bike had had enough!!!

[@gesp5151]

@@trdi sorry I just meant elevation and gradient not anything else! But yes some say it’s a busy road to Méribel: I didn’t find it bad at all and the road is wide and spacious. I would recommend!

[@gesp5151]

@@TheColCollective Yes and cost me my Etape as special part for that bike! Had to strap chain etc on to stay to descend down Corchevel. Excellent filming!

[@gesp5151]

Went back last week and did it without mechanical although quite a lot of snow and debris on bike path. Bit around the ski cabins is the worst in my view. Do you think this is comparable to Angliru? I know it’s longer/higher but gradient only kicks in last 7km whereas Angliru is more consistently hard over last 8. Just trying to get a feel for whether I can make it!!!?

[@anthonyleo6074]

what bottle cages are those ??

[@TheColCollective]

They are the carbon cages from Ultimate Sports Engineering 👉🏼 www.exposure-use.com/Brands/Ultimate-USE/Products/Spares-and-Accessories/Accessories/Carbon-Bottle-Cage-ULTCAGEC

[@JJ-fb3gg]

👌🏾👍🏽

[@belly450]

What gearing are you using for this one

[@TheColCollective]

I was using 36x34. If you have lower, use it!

[@bengt_axle]

How does one train for that kind of climbing if we don't live in a mountainous area? The most I can squeeze in is 500m of ascent in 21km. Just do loops? I've done 18% grades and that is just brutal, even with a 28. Maybe I need a sub compact in the front.

[@TheColCollective]

When I was living on the flatlands the wind became the equivalent of a climb, pushing a bigger gear and holding good form. After getting asked similar questions many moons ago I wrote this article. Hopefully it can help! thecolcollective.com/learn/advice/how-to-train-for-the-mountains-if-you-live-on-the-flat

[@bengt_axle]

@@TheColCollective Great! Thanks very much. I certainly can do 20 minutes of low cadence, high gear, where I am know.

[@carnsoaks1]

Ride into a headwind for 45 minutes

[@marcusjohnsson4882]

What’s the camper?

[@TheColCollective]

It’s a Ford Torneo Custom that I converted last year. Really great vehicle!

[@andybiker-hiker4343]

Love these videos .... just wish the music wasn't so overpowering. Much better to hear the wind, your voice, the bike on the road

[@TheColCollective]

Thanks for your feedback Andy 👍🏼👍🏼

[@arnienz1962]

What's with the whispering at the end? haha

[@TheColCollective]

A little motivation, when you hit the steepest parts there will be times when that chimp says it’s too much. Gotta keep believing.

[@edgardwill4932]

What's that car?

[@TheColCollective]

It’s a Ford Tourneo with the back made more “bike” friendly and a roof tent on top. Can’t sing its praises highly enough, a fantastic vehicle for road trips and travel 🙏🏻

[@naqboulebb7561]

Is not haute Savoie but Savoie !😊

[@TheColCollective]

Yep, realised about two hours after I put it live I’d said that 🤦🏼

[@stevengordon-head2420]

Usually ski the Loze down 😂

[@TheColCollective]

Absolutely!!!

[@sandydennylives1392]

It was too much for Pog, he had a big loze on the col.

[@TheColCollective]

Yep. A BIG loz!

[@princeandrew5430]

Why the disc brakes? Thought I heard you say it wasn’t just for mountain bike riders now? Or is it just to satisfy your sponsors so they can sell these bikes to poorly educated, financially well endowed middle aged white men? Many thanks in advance, Uncle Andrew 😊

[@TheColCollective]

Main reason for disc brakes is consistent stopping power in all conditions. Some of those mountain descents are sketchy anyway, ans when it’s wet I’ll take all the help I can get 👌🏼🐮

[@somethingnewhere]

Incredible production quality - as a fellow cyclist 🚴‍♀️ I applaud you !!!!

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@davidnsasaki]

Thanks!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much David. I really appreciate your support 🙏🏻

[@mbgren73]

Thanks

[@TheColCollective]

Huge thank you for your support Matt! Hope you’re keeping well? 🐮🐮🐮

[@mbgren73]

@@TheColCollective all good here, Mike, thanks. You and yours too, I hope?

[@Arsakes1989]

Thanks!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you so much for your support. Really appreciate it! 🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮

[@Tipperarymike]

Thanks!

[@TheColCollective]

Thank you kindly 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻