Col de Joux Plane

The climb from Samoens featured on Le Cure in 2016 and will be back for Stage 1 in 2021. It’s a gruelling 11.6km with an average grade of 8.5% and a demanding maximum of 12.5%. Nestled in the shadow of Mt Blanc it is a truly beautiful mountain pass.

The Joux Plane has been used by the Tour 12 times since its first outing in 1978 and was the scene of an amazing chase by eventual winner Laurent Fignon in 1983. It was also on the Joux Plane that Floyd Landis made an extraordinary solo break in 2006 to win the stage. Unfortunately it was a little too extraordinary and he tested positive for testosterone a few days later.