THE HUNDRED COLS TOUR 4000 KM

the toughest bicycle ride in the world

Fourthousand kilometer over the toughest and best known cols in France!

The Hundred Cols Tour is the ultimate challange for the bicycle rider. Fourthousand kilometer over all great mountain areas of France, passes more than hundred cols and almost hundred côtes. This is an individual challenge. Whoever succeeds in doing this tour may find himself under the strongest riders in the world. The Hundred Cols Tour can only be done by riders that have a tremendous perserverance. Indeed: The Ultimate Challenge..

(latest revision 14 january 2008)


Bonette

The Ultimate Challenge

The Hundred Cols Tour is the toughest bicycle ride in the world. The track is 4000 km long, and passes all big cols in the French mountain areas. The ride is done individulally, but participants may take as long as they want to accomplish the complete 4000 km.
About 1500 participants were registered since 1979 when the tour first started. less than 300 of them really succeeded in doing the job.
All riders agree that there is no tougher, but also not a more beautyfull bicycle ride in the world.
 
 

more info

 The Hundred Cols Tour 
is organised by 

Stichting 
Honderd Cols Tocht

Achterstraat 15
4101 BB  Culemborg
The Netherlands
+31-345-476355

E-mail:
info@100cols.org

Home
 
 

History


This route "100 Cols Tocht" was introduced in 1979 by the NTFU (Nederlandse Toer Fiets Unie, the Dutch sport cycling association). Immediately there was a lot of interest. Shortly afterwards, they stopped their interference, until a few members from the Utrecht cycling club RTC De Domstad decided to do the route and adapted it over the years. In 1983 they first published it. In 2003 the Tour was further taken care of by the Hundred Cols Foundation. Since 1979 more than 1200 participants have subscribed of which more than 260 have finished, some of them even a few times. It's a very challenging, tough but incredibly beautiful ride. Many newspapers and magazines have already reported about it.

Route

Since 1979 the route has changed considerably. In 1983 we added the Couillole, Bonnette and Grand Colombier. The second major adaption was in 1989, when nearly 1000K was changed as the mountain roads are getting more and more popular than ever. In this way Marie Blanque and Ballon d'Alsace were added and Haguenau became the new starting point, instead of Wissembourg, which replaced Bitche. Nowadays it's Saverne in the NE of France, just NW of Strasbourg. Since 1992 the route was adapted every two years, latest in 2005, and alternatives were searched for busy roads.

The itiniary is a sequel of mountainous areas.  In total there are 105 cols and 96 côtes. We recommend to do it in the described direction. Not only because it's easy to follow the directions, but also as it has a more natural ascent in difficulty. The first part is firly easy. After a few Vosges cols (up to 700m) the route goes to Plateau de Langres to Bourgogne and Beaujolais (up to 1000m) . with lots of cols. Eight cols / 100K is not an exception. The Beaujolais goes into Massif Central, with the infamous  Puy Marie as the highest (15% ascent). We didn't include the Puy de Dome as it is a 'cul-de-sac' and not permitted for cyclists. After troublesome Gascogne with its many, short and tough climbs the Pyrenees come up next (up to 2000m) with tough climbs of 10 to 20%. Then we descend to the Cevennes, with easier climbs. The section from the Rhône to the Provence is fairly flat, but once we climb out of the Rhone valley, we quickly arrive at Mt.Ventoux, which is no doubt one of the toughest climbs especially since it's nearly always quite hot here. Then we go through the Alps. The first cols from the Alpes Maritimes only reach to 1000 m, but they are very steep. Col de la Bonnette is among the highest paved cols in Europe. Now the other giants follow one another, with the Galibier as it's highest climb and finishing it off by the spectacular climb (16%) to the Grand Colombier.
After the Alps the Jura and Vosges are much easier, though the Grand Ballon at 1400 m and 15km of climbing is quite difficult nonetheless. Then we finish wit many small, but tough climbs finishing off everything with a climb to the well known St. Odile's abbey.
 

 Mountain area Cols
Vosges  Donon
Bourgogne/Beaujolais  Brancion, Croix-d'Auterre, Casse Froide
Central Massif  Croix de l'Homme Mort, Puy Marie
Pyrenees  Burdincurutcheta, Soudet, Marie Blanque, Aubisque, Tourmalet, Soulor, Aspin, Peyresourde, Menté, Portet d'Aspet, Core, Agnes, Peguere
Cevennes  Mont Aigoual, Solpérière
Provence  Mont Ventoux, Macuegne, Homme Mort
Alps  Buis, Couillole, Bonette, Vars, Izoard, Galibier, Télégraphe, Isèran, Saisies, Cormet de Roselend, Aravis, Croix-Fry
Jura  Grand Colombier, Berentin, Croix de la Serra
Voges  Ballon d'Alsace, Grand Ballon, Linge, Bonhomme, Ste Marie

 

Toughness/difficulty

The steepness of cols is varying. Most major cols are between 7 and 12% steep, but there are a few steeper climbs such as Marie Blanque, Menté, Portet d'Aspet, Peguere, Solperiere, Ventoux, Buis, en Grand Colombier.

The NTFU didn't say for nothing this is the world's toughest ride. Cycling in the Pyrenees and Alps is difficult, but especially the continuous lengthy climbs are very hard on a human body, both physical and mental. Total denivellation is 56 K. In comparison, the well known Liège- Bastogne-Liège is 3K and the Tour de France 20 K in altitude gain. It's important to train and having a few years experience in cycling mountainous areas (Ardennen, Eifel) is recommendable. As the major cols don't open up before June 1 there's enough time to get trained in spring. Your best bet is to train in the Belgian Ardennes or another hilly area in your region. From Holland it is recommended to cycle to France by bike, so as to add a training element in the Belgian Ardennes hills and Northern France. Those who have finished the ride mostly used 20 to 40 days to finish, often divided over several years. Participants were beween 18 and 72 years old, both men and women have done it. So far as many as thirteen women finished. We think that the 100 cols ride can be done by any healthy and fit cyclist, provided they take enough time. In some cases it's recommended to get a physical examination prior to the ride in a specialized sports centre.
 

Natural beauty

This "100 cols tocht"  is not just the toughest, but according to nearly all participants also the most beautiful ride in the world. You will encounter beautiful, varied landscape and magnificent vistas. If you truly want to enjoy this, take your time and read guide books. The route goes right through many regional parks, and a lot of attention has been devoted to making it a scenic route.Sometimes you may do a shorter route in between 2 controls but you are not really doing yourself  a favour by short-cutting it.
 

Pignon.

A minimum of 42x28 in the Pyrenees and Alps is recommended for road cyclists.

Possible pignon combinations are::
12-vit: 40-52 x 15-17-19-21-24-28
14-vit: 40-52 x 15-17-19-21-23-25-28
16-vit: 40-52 x 15-17-19-21-23-25-28-32

Leave your 14 pignon at home, you'll definitely need the bigger ones. If you're not a true climber, you may prefer a 38 chainring or a 30/32 pignon in the back. Adding a third chain ring might be considered.
 

Luggage

Several cyclists have done the ride without a sag wagon, and it was shown that 7 kg of luggage is manageable if you prefer staying in youth hostels or hotels. The luggage list which is added to the package you receive, should be helpful. We do not recommend riding with a sag wagon, as sometimes this can be more troublesome than helpful (you forget to take the stuff you need on the bike). Besides, it's not easy to drive a sag wagon in mountainous areas for a long time.
 

Planning

When planning for this ride, don't count on doing 250 K or more in a given day. In the flatter stages 200K is possible but in the mountainous areas this should be limited to 130 K or less and this is not an exaggarated recommendation.
 

Staying overnight

You'll have to find out where to stay every night, as there are not hotels in every village. There are enough campsites and if there aren't any, camping wild is allowed provided you check with the police. There is enough hotel accommodation en route, though there are a few sections where it may be tougher. The description gives info on whether there are hostels or hotels in a given location. Hotels are not very expensive, mostly you can find a 2-person bedroom for less then € 40.
You can also stay in a so-called  "Chambres d' Hôte", which are B&Bs. They are often indicated on the road. Generally breakfast is better than in hotels, but it's not always possible to have dinner here.

Nutrition

Food is important. As you can't take all your food with you, you'll have to make a choice from French food. We recommend the heavier "Pains de Campagne" over the ordinary 'baguette' . You can get enough food for the bread in supermarkets/Alimentations (ham, cheese, marmelade). If you don't want to make your own sandwiches you can buy them elsewhere too. We recommend the tins of rice-pudding sold as desserts in many supermarkets. Most restaurants offer delicious food , but the portions may not be adequate for a cyclists. You may tell them you're a cyclist, so that you may get a larger portion. Coffee and hot chocolate are available in most pubs. Tea and "citron-pressé" are better choices in the south. You can take fruit juices in the water bottles. We recommend a minimum of 2 bottles, one filled with pure water, which may be needed in warmer areas like the Provence to keep your head cool.
 

Clothes

Depending on the time of year, but even in summer time, you can encounter big temperature shifts. Expect winterly weather, like hail and snow storms, but also climbs in stifling heat at temperatures of up to 40 °C. A cap, gloves, but also a collant and raincoat are a must! Never ride with a bare body, as it is a too high risk for sun burn or too much cooling off in descents. Sun protection is a must too, especially for your nose.

In the burning sun, a helmet will do more harm than benefit when climbing the cols, so take care to store it safely on the bike. But it is not wise to ride with a bare head, so we recommend a white cap, which you can keep wet. You'll need a raincoat most of the time during descents because of the rapid cooling of your body. You should use a shirt with an easy to open zipper.
 

Hygiene

Someone cycling in the mountains for several weeks will have to accept a lower level of personal hygiene. You can't take clean clothes all the time or clean them on time. Try to pay attention to the trousers, as your bottom is your most vulnerable part.
 

Danger

The risk of severe falls in the mtn is bigger than in flatter courses. In descents you will need to take great caution, as you won't be the first participants who arrives home in an ambulance. Especially rainy descents are very dangerous, as well as snow walls underneath which cattle are hiding. The manure in combination with melting water often results in very slippery roads. Fog is dangerous too, take care for 'cattle on the loose'. We recommend wearing a good helmet. The old-fashioned leather helmet does not offer sufficent protection, while some modern helmets do not ventilate enough. Pay attention to this when purchasing a helmet, as heat is among the biggest problems en route.

Another danger next to sun and cold are the pitch-dark tunnels. If you don't carry light, do carry a large rear reflector, as it is not ucommon that cyclists are hit by traffic inside tunnels.
 

Language problems

Unfortunately there are few French who speak any other language but French. Who doesn't speak the language will have a major problem. Sign language and pointing will help, as well as a language gide. The experience is that after a few days it gets easier to order coffee and arrange a night's stay.
 

The 100 cols package.

As soon as you have paid by giro you will receive the package at home. It is available only in Dutch. The envelope contains:
- description of the route
- profile of the mountains.
- index list of all cols en côtes
- address list (to get road info on some cols)
- control booklet
- recommmendations for luggage
- alternative routes in case a col is closed due to weather circumstances
- information on getting there
- print from 100-cols register (with names of finisher)
- information bulletin
 

Route description

The description is compact, loose-leafed, descriptive and gives a wealth of info. The hight profile will add info. The best way to follow the route is to buy the well-known Michelin maps (1:200 000 or 1:150.000). If you don't want to take a full backpack with all these maps, we recommmend to make a smaller copy, draw the route and cut it into pieces. You can also buy the Michelin atlas and cut out the required pages/pieces.
 

Not a race

The route is not a race and there is no record. Every participant gives her/his best. We will not cooperate in record, which will be difficult nonetheless as the route changes every 2 years. The only record we recognize is that of Ton Handgraaf from Haarlem: he completed the 100 Cols at the age of 73.

Rules.

As this tour is organised by a NTFU (dutch union) affiliated organisation, the normal NTFU rules apply.
This route is a very special one. If you want to get recognition, you have to apply to the rules in the control booklet. This means that you are required to get a date stamp every day (banks, post offices, railway stations) and have to get another stamp in the required control places (village, city and sometimes on top of a col). If you take more than one year to finish, you will need to get both a finish stamp and a start stamp in the town where you get off the route. If you get a stamp on the cols, you don't need another one in the places in between. We are not being picky when checking the booklet, but are consistent.

There is no limit to the number of years, but every year you have to send the booklet prior to November 1. Of course you don't need to do this when you haven't cycled a part of the route in a given year. Except for a new booklet you get a stamp to glue into a NTFU-booklet. Once finished, your name will be added to the 100-cols register.
 

Memory

If you transfer €  20,00 you can get a memory, which is a wooden board with an aluminum plaquette with your name printed on it. This memory can be bought after you finish the route. It may take a while before you will get it, as they are only ordered once a year.
 

Participate

You can get all the required stuff by sending € 25,00 to Postbank account nr. 9646072 of "Honderd Cols Tocht, Culemborg", adding your name, address, bicycle club you belong to and "100 cols".
The IBAN codes of our bank account:
IBAN: NL35 PSTB 0009 6460 72
BIC: PSTBNL21
International bank transactions are rather expensive in the non-Euro zone. A cheaper way is to include 25 Euro in notes in an envelope addressed to the secretariat.
 

Cols and Cotes

According to official French definitions, a col is a mountain pass. It is the highest part of a road, in between two higher mountaintops. However, not all climbs in this tour are cols, and not all cols are climbs. Of the 110 named cols only some 70 are indicated as climbs.
Other climbs, that cannot be characterized as "cols" are called "côtes", which simply means "slope". There are 59 hills characterized as côtes. Most of them are small ones, but some of them are quite difficult, like the Côte de Ste Croix in the Cevennes, or the Côte de la Croix Signy, which is the longest climb in the Beaulolais.
A very remarkable col is the Col de Fourques in the Cevennes. You get there by descending the Mt. Aigoual. The Col is then the lowest point, after this the road goes up again to the Col de Perjuret. How comes that the lowest part of the road is called a Col? Simply: the col is located at a crossing, and the Col definition refers to the side roads, which both descend from the col.
 
  John Rigby-Jones is one of our British participants. He completed the tour in 2005 to raise money for Cancer Research UK An English written diary can be found here.

(many thanks to Yvonne van den Hork and Mario Labelle for the translation)

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