Nicknamed the Balcony of Geneva, Mont Salève towers over the Geneva conurbation and offers, from Collonges-sous-Salève, a demanding climb via Col de la Croisette — long a training ground for cyclists from the region.
A steep climb up the Balcony of Geneva
From Collonges-sous-Salève, it’s 7.5 km for 680 m of elevation gain, averaging 9%, with the upper section reaching 11.2% over its last 4.7 km. The road climbs through forest via a series of hairpins right up to the summit area.
A panorama over Geneva and Mont Blanc
The Grand Piton, the massif’s high point at 1,379 m, offers an open view over the Geneva conurbation, Lake Geneva, the Jura and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc — a panorama that explains the site’s popularity well beyond cycling circles.
Getting the ride right
A wide-range cassette makes the steepest section far more manageable, particularly for riders less used to double-digit gradients on a narrow, winding forest road.
When to go
April to October — the forested slope stays shaded and sometimes damp outside this window, which can leave the road slippery through the hairpins.
Good to know
A cable car, running since 1932, reaches the summit effortlessly for anyone accompanying a rider, while Geneva, just a few kilometres away, offers every service for extending a stay in the region.
