Road · Switzerland
Col des Mosses from Aigle
A mountainous 20 km road cycling route from Aigle through Drapel, Fontanney and Le Verney, with 1,029 m of climbing over the Aigle climb. Most of it (18.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.6 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 19.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,029 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 24 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Oct
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Aigle
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,029 m
- 20 km
Route description
- Aigle
- Aigle climb
- Drapel
- Fontanney
- Le Verney
- Le Sépey
- La Comballaz
Starting from Aigle at around 415 m elevation, the route quickly joins main road 11 and climbs steadily for nearly 19 km to reach 1444 m at Col des Mosses. The climb is 18.4 km long, gaining 1025 m with an average gradient of 5.6%, with maximum gradients reaching 10.8% over a short section. Most of the road is main road (94%) with around 0.6 km on a quiet street near the start. The surface is primarily paved (96%), with a very small section on gravel or unpaved (2%).
The profile is dominated by climbing, with 92% of the distance ascending. Over 11 km have gradients above 5%, including nearly 2 km above 8% and a short 0.4 km stretch above 10%. A notable continuous steep section covers nearly 12 km. Road 11 is lightly fast with parts up to 80 km/h speed limits over 10.6 km. There are no cycle lanes on the main road sections.
Facilities at the start in Aigle include bakeries, cafés, pubs and a restaurant, along with supermarkets and a bike rental. On the climb, shops, cafés and bailout stations are available around km 10.9. The longest distance without café, shop or water is 5.5 km from km 10.9 to 16.4. At the top, several stores, restaurants and drinking water points can be found within 200 m of the road.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Aigle climb (18.4 km at 5.6 %).
- Tops out at 1,444 m, 19 km in.
Highlights
- Climb of 18.4 km with 1025 m gain
- Main road 11 for 18.2 km
- Steep gradients up to 10.8%
- Longest café/shop stretch is 5.5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aigle climb | 0.6 km | 18.4 km · 1025 m · 5.6 % · max 10.8 % | 18.4 km · 1025 m · 5.6 % | 1444 m |
Aigle climb · full ascent, starts at 0.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 93% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.6 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 94% main road · 3% quiet street · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 18.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 10.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- 11 (18 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 92% climbing · 2% descending · 6% flat
- Steep sections
- 11.7 km over 5% · 1.9 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 36 cafés and restaurants, 8 shops, 1 water point, 1 petrol station, 10 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmPharmacie du Centre · pharmacy · 60 m off route
- 0.2 kmDenner · supermarket · 200 m off route
- 0.2 kmGare d'Aigle · bike rental · 190 m off route
- 0.3 kmL'échappée · bakery · on the route
- 0.4 kmJubin · petrol station · on the route
- 1.1 kmToilets · on the route
- 10.9 kmTea Room Mont d'Or · café · 110 m off route
- 10.9 kmAu Petit Magasin · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 10.9 kmToilets · 130 m off route
- 18.6 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 18.6 kmToilets · on the route
- 18.7 kmLe Souillon · pub · on the route
- 18.8 kmLes Fougères · convenience store · 50 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 1.1 km — Aigle-Dépôt (station), on the route
- 10.9 km — Le Sépey (station), 90 m off route
Stay after this ride
- Le Relais Alpin · hotel · 780 m from the finish
- Perle des Alpes · guest house · 600 m from the finish
- Le Cuizon · campsite · 1.2 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- L'échappée (100 m), Cafe de la Place "Chez Marie" (50 m), Dukagjini (70 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Le Bivouac (790 m), Le Souillon (930 m), Bar le cosmos (840 m)
- Shops
- Les Fougères (720 m), Bazar du Col des Mosses (740 m)
Know before you go
- 18.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 10.6 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or higher
- 5.5 km longest stretch with no café, shop or water from km 10.9
