The Col de Joux Plane: the Tour de France's forgotten climb?

In the shadow of the mighty Mont Blanc, the Col de Joux Plane could be the small climb with the big story at the 2016 Tour de France

The Col de Joux Plane. Photo: Daniel Gould

There are always two sides to every story. On the one hand the Col de Joux Plane is perhaps the most picturesque and tranquil mountain pass in the French Alps. Nestled in the shadow of Mont Blanc, it’s a postcard of bucolic beauty, sun-drenched in the summer and sprinkled with snow in the winter.

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Richard Abraham is an award-winning writer, based in New Zealand. He has reported from major sporting events including the Tour de France and Olympic Games, and is also a part-time travel guide who has delivered luxury cycle tours and events across Europe. In 2019 he was awarded Writer of the Year at the PPA Awards.