Sous l'Aiguille from Thones

Thank you, Climbfinder, for this hidden gem in the Aravis Massif!
The name ‘Sous L’Aiguille’ is surely due to the fact that the final section is situated beneath theAiguille de Manigod, which rises to an altitude of 2,024 metres.
From Thônes, this climb is quite varied, with the first section following the rather steep Route du Col de la Croix-Fry (8–9 per cent gradient) Then, just before Manigod, you need to take the Route de la Grange towards Les Choseaux; this passes below Manigod with a view of the bell tower just above.
The road lies in a hollow of the Aravis Massif, surrounded by high peaks: La Roche Sulens (1,735 m), La Riondaz (1,747 m), Aiguille de Manigod (2,024 m), L’ÉTALE (2,484 m)... and one or two others.
The final 2.5 kilometres are the most challenging, with gradients of between 10–12 per cent; the finish is at a large car park from where hikers set off on foot – by 9 am it was full.
Traffic is light, though this surely depends on the time of day, as evidenced by the number of vehicles in the final car park and the fact that none overtook me.
The tarmac is in good condition for a standard road bike.
There’s a mix of sunny and shaded sections, but even in the morning sun, temperatures are comfortable in this part of the mountains – no risk of the engine overheating.
PS: A climb well worth discovering and savouring.

The climb is long and very uneven. The first three kilometres are easy, but be careful not to get caught out by a very steep first section. There is then another flat area and a second steep section.