Whether by car or by bike, the Route des Grandes Alpes is one of the most spectacular journeys in Europe. Starting at Lake Geneva, it winds southwards through the Alps to Nice on the Mediterranean coast, taking in some of the most famous cols along the way. These include the mighty Col de l’Iseran at an altitude of 2,764m, the Col du Galibier at 2,645m, and the Col d’Izoard at 2,360m, then onwards to another giant that isn't as notorious as its neighbours but is still a worthy climb in its own right: the Col de Vars.
At an average gradient of 5.9%, the Col de Vars may
