Thu, 15 October 2026
Vertical Climbed: 773 meters (2,536 feet)
Vertical Descended: 750 meters
Rating: 3
I fancied a 100 km ride without too much climbing, preferably with a swim at the end. The Col de la Chambotte seemed to fit the bill. It's a classic climb for cyclists from Aix-les-Bains, but one I'd never tackled myself.
I wanted to stick to quiet roads as much as possible, so I headed out from the lac St Andre, Chambery then Aix-les-Bains via the back road through the Bois de Corsuet. I nearly had a head-on collision when a car decided to overtake another vehicle and came straight into my lane. I'd been daydreaming a little up to that point, but that certainly woke me up, and I paid rather more attention from then on!
The next minor complication was the Chemin des Pinsons, a little back road I'd spotted on the map. Unfortunately, it turned out to be blocked by a garage and was completely impassable. I had to spend about 100 metres on the main Route des Albanaises before picking up another wonderfully tranquil lane leading to Saint-Germain-la-Chambotte and the start of the climb.
The Col de la Chambotte sits at a low point in the ridge separating Lac du Bourget from the higher country behind it. At 640 metres, it's neither particularly long nor especially difficult. I joined forces with another cyclist for the climb, and we rode together to the summit, where I stopped to take a few photos.
There's a panoramic viewpoint above the col, complete with a bar and restaurant in the warmer months. Reaching it involves an optional but rather steep extra 80 metres of climbing. The views over Lac du Bourget are reputedly magnificent, although I was content with the col itself this time.
The descent towards the lake is steep, rugged and rather rough in places. I was also keeping an eye out for a left turn that would take me back towards the water, so I took it fairly cautiously.
Once down by the lake, I caught up with three other riders, and we formed an impromptu team time trial back to Aix-les-Bains. It certainly did wonders for my average speed, although there wasn't much time for sightseeing!
I briefly toyed with the idea of stopping for something to eat in Aix, as I'd done on a previous ride in September, but decided it would be quicker to press on. The sun was already getting low, and I wanted to be back before the light faded.
From the lake, the cycle path took me almost all the way back to Lac Saint-André, where I'd left the car. It's a lovely way to finish a ride, particularly outside the busy summer season. The lakeside section between Le Viviers and Aix can get extremely crowded with pedestrians, children and rollerbladers in summer. There's the option of using the cycle lane on the road, but traffic can be heavy, so this is definitely a route best enjoyed out of season.
I finished the ride in 4 hours 20 minutes, having covered 101 km with 950 metres of climbing.
And the bonus? A very pleasant swim in Lac Saint-André before heading home. The water was just about perfect: still pleasantly warm, but not too hot. A fine way to round off an autumn ride.
All in all, a really enjoyable circuit, with some delightful little country lanes through the Bois de Corsuet, a manageable climb, and a spectacular descent back towards Lac du Bourget. A route I'd happily ride again.
Warm, 21C, T shirt weather even on the col. Back roads a bit variable: dips, gravel. Main roads and cycle path in good condition. Not much traffic.
