Montagnes du Monde
When you live and ride in the Alpes Maritimes it can be easy to forget there's a whole world of climbs out there just waiting to be conquered. Our Montagnes du Monde series recognises cols near and far including some of the most celebrated climbs globally. And a few less celebrated but no less good.
To salute the roads we ride, we've created a badge for each col. To claim your badge you need to connect your Café du Cycliste account to your komoot account and go out and ride. All badges are free to a good, and deserving home. To learn more and get started on your collection, head to our badges page here.
L'ALPE D'HUEZ
“It is a rich slope” was the word that spread from the Romans. The mountain may see up to 1000 riders a day in the season and it’s an obvious but inescapable analogy that these velocipedes are here to mine the rich history of this mountain-side velodrome. Judge it or just enjoy it.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 1,850m
Length: 14.4km
Ascent: 1,123m
Average Gradient: 9.0%
Max Gradient: 11.8%
COL DU TOURMALET
Tourmalet is a true cyclist’s climb. It’s steeped in history and whereas many popular cols are often polluted with coaches and sports cars, Tourmalet is relatively quiet. Whilst some sections are tough it rarely touches 10% but at 19km it’s long from Luz-Saint-Sauveur.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 2,115m
Length: 19km
Ascent: 1,210m
Average Gradient: 7.1%
Max Gradient: 10.2%
PASSO DELLO STELVIO
Ask any cyclist, professional or amateur, and they may well tell you the same thing. It is an ugly climb. At least in the sense of the effort required. Being Europe’s third highest col, measuring 22kms in length and averaging 7.1% in gradient, that really comes as no surprise.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 2,758m
Length: 22km
Ascent: 1,774m
Average Gradient: 7.1%
Max Gradient: 12.9%
SA CALOBRA
Sa Calobra is where the Tramuntana mountain range, which dominates the north and west of Mallorca, meets the sea. Getting there is not easy, as first you must climb and then enjoy the swooping descent into the port hole. Locals have many nicknames for the climb: 'La Cobra', 'The Knot', 'The Neck Tie' or simply just 'The Hole'.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 682m
Length: 9.5m
Ascent: 647m
Average Gradient: 7.0%
Max Gradient: 16.3%
KOPPENBERG
The 'Bump of Melden', as the Koppenberg is known locally, shows mercy to none, not even the legends of the sport. Eddy Merckx, Belgium’s most famous cyclist once said: “One might as well ask the riders to climb a ladder with their bikes on their shoulders.” The bulge is a mere 64 meters above sea level and only 682 meters long, but includes parts that incline up to 21%.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 64m
Length: 682m
Ascent: 62m
Average Gradient: 12.6%
Max Gradient: 21%
THE TUMBLE
It’s considered as the gateway to the South Wales Valleys, where towns and villages appeared as industrialists discovered the reserves of iron and coal under the green and undulating landscapes. At 4.1km in length, with an average gradient of 8.5% there’s no surprise that it’s a favourite amongst local riders, and featured as a summit finish in the 2014 Tour of Britain.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 512m
Length: 4.7km
Ascent: 347m
Average Gradient: 8.2%
Max Gradient: 12.2%
BEAR MOUNTAIN
At its peak, Bear Mountian is just shy of 1,300ft in elevation on a 4.5 mile stretch of beautiful paved road - a tiny mole hill compared to some of the world’s most famous climbs. However, what it lacks in grandeur makes up for having some of the best views of the Hudson highlands.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 393m
Length: 7.6km
Ascent: 387m
Average Gradient: 5.0%
Max Gradient: 11.5%
MOUNT BALDY
Nicknamed for the absence of trees near its summit, the majestic mountain rises above the Angeles National Forest to a peak of 10,046ft, which marks the highest point in both the San Gabriel Mountains and Los Angeles County. On clear days its oft-snow-capped peak dominates the skyline to the north, rendering the city’s man-made monuments diminutive by contrast.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 1,935m
Length: 7.2km
Ascent: 628m
Average Gradient: 8.7%
Max Gradient: 14.5%
MOUNT FUJI
Mount Fuji has its own distinctive characteristics which set it apart from other mountains in Japan. It’s not just because it is the highest peak, with an elevation of 3,776 meters, but also because of its geographical position and its connection to local history and culture.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 2,300m
Length: 24.0km
Ascent: 1,244m
Average Gradient: 5.1%
Max Gradient: 8.1%
NAMSAN
Korea is a country of mountains. These landforms offer a variety of challenging cycling routes but for the people who live in the city of Seoul, escaping to explore these areas isn’t always an option. That is where Namsan and Bugak come in. While these mountains aren’t the grandest, highest or most scenic in South Korea, they are certainly the most popular.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 262m
Length: 4.3km
Ascent: 213m
Average Gradient: 5.0%
Max Gradient: 16.0%
TAI MO SHAN
Climbing is one of the reasons why Hong Kong cycling is so renowned. Once famous for a type of green tea called “cloud tea”, Tai Mo Shan is also known as the “Cloud Mountain” because of the almost permanent meteorological dressing on top. Riders say that when the conditions are right, you can even feel as if you are part of the sky.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 930m
Length: 9.8km
Ascent: 845m
Average Gradient: 8.6%
Max Gradient: 14.5%
WULING
Since 2012 climbers both amateur and professional have been flocking to Taiwan to tame the beast that is Wuling. Yet many have not even heard of the far eastern mountain. The average gradient may be only just over 5% but on a mountain of this scale, you know that doesn't mean every kilometre is a piece of cake.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 3,275m
Length: 53km
Ascent: 2,623m
Average Gradient: 5.0%
Max Gradient: 18.2%
MOUNT HOTHAM
Arguably Australia’s most spectacular climb, the road up Mount Hotham twists up some unforgiving landscapes, beyond the tree line and up to an alpine resort. Over 30 kilometres of climbing at an average of 4.2%, this is truly a Hors Catégorie climb, bringing you up the highest year-round accessible sealed road in Australia.
KEY INFO
Altitude: 1,850m
Length: 28.7km
Ascent: 1,358m
Average Gradient: 4.7%
Max Gradient: 13.4%
BADGES FOR COLS
We've created a collection of badges in celebration of iconic climbs near and far. All you have to do is ride the col and claim your free badge.
MONTAGNES À LA CARTE
The cols of the Alpes Maritimes offer some of the best riding in Europe. Providing inspiration and perspiration in close to equal measure.
BADGES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Not sure how to get started on your badge collection? Having trouble uploading rides? Our FAQ page has got you covered.
BADGES HIGH FIVE
Kick start your badge collection. Claiming five cols in one ride means lots of distance and plenty of elevation, but when you're riding in the Alpes Maritimes you wouldn't want it any other way.
