Col de Mollard from En Bas des Maisons

For me, this is the nicest side of the Col and the least known because it has never been part of the Tour or the Dauphiné, just the Tour de l'Avenir. The road is extremely dangerous on the descent because of the surface, which is unworthy of an access road to one of the 5 majors of the French Alps, since the road leads to the Cx de Fer via Albiez, which is 35 kilometres of hump. But on the climb, it's a bit of a treat in my case, as I'm staying in Albiez as a break from the Trilogie de Maurienne. A quiet start with a long 3 km false flat, then you arrive at the hydroelectric plant and the climb really starts'gently at first with slopes that are familiar to me from Auvergne, 4-5 per cent, then when you reach the car park the slope steepens into the Arve gorges, from Le Gevoudaz onwards it's non-stop;It's a long climb of between 8 and 12 kilometres, but for me it's almost a pleasure because I'm light enough for it, but for a Dutchman or someone from the plains it must be a real ordeal because even for me it's unnatural to climb long passes at 8 kilometres. Small flat spot before Albiez le Vieux then two horrible km with a slope and the sun beating down if it's hot inside. Fountain and small area to rest at the top.

One of the three climbing routes to the Col du Mollard starts from St.Jean de Maurienne that you cycle out of via the main route to Croix de Fer, which you soon leave for the secondary D110.
There, the start is indicated by the white-yellow info posts that will keep you informed for 16 km. (distance to summit/altitude/％volgende km.). Initially fairly straight slightly ascending road that crosses the Arvan mountain river several times.
From En Bas de Maisons ( CF starting point), the unnumbered hairpin bends start up the forested rock face (shade) briskly uphill, occasionally through villages with a few houses and panoramas's on snow-covered mountain peaks. A little less climbing when cycling into Albiez-le-Vieux, where you also join the route from Villargondran, for the last two tough km. to the summit.
At highest point is course bike with polka-dot shrub vein, there is a water source, catering (June still closed though) and
views where the Aiguilles d'Arves (French "Tre Cime") in particular stood out.
The tarmac is of varying quality and there is usually hardly any traffic.
In June 2023, it was exceptionally slightly busier as the Croix de Fer was closed for a long time due to roadworks and all traffic was diverted via this climb. An unplanned introduction for many cyclists .
For me, the climb was planned and highly recommended !

Made during the Maurienne laces, long straight line in false flat going up at the beginning of ST Jean de Maurienne until the starting point just after the crossing of the bridge which spans the Arvan.
The first part is parallel to the road to the Col de la Croix de Fer, which can be seen by looking up.
The Col du Mollard on this side is long and steep, the tarmac at the time I climbed it was not very nice.

I climbed it only once, in 1997 during my BRA (Brevet de Randonnée Alpine), before attacking the Croix de Fer. I have the memory of a pleasant climb, exposed to the sun, quite difficult, but it was partly due to the fact that I already had the Lautaret and the Galibier in my legs that day...