Villars-sur-Ollon is not the first name on most cyclists' Swiss itinerary. The Grimsel, the Gotthard, the Susten, the Furka — those are the passes that appear on Swiss cycling bucket lists. Villars is a ski resort on a south-facing plateau in the Vaud Alps, overlooking the Rhône valley, and it attracts serious riders primarily because of one climb that runs above it: the Col de la Croix.
The Tour de Suisse uses the Col de la Croix as a race-defining mountain precisely because it is a proper Alpine climb. Not a showpiece ascent for television, but a 19-kilometre effort at consistent gradient that rewards sustainable power and punishes riders who start too hard. Four crossings of it make Stage 5 of the 2026 Tour de Suisse the hardest day of the five-stage race.
For visiting athletes, the same climb is available any day between late May and October. The road is public. The gradient hasn't changed.
The Col de la Croix
The pass sits at 1,778 metres in the southern Vaud Alps, connecting Bex in the Rhône valley with Villars-sur-Ollon and on to Les Diablerets on the far side.
Full ascent from Ollon (below Bex): 18.2 kilometres, 1,303 metres of vertical gain, 7.2% average gradient. Individual ramps reach 15.9% in the steepest section, between kilometres 8 and 14. The climb passes through Gryon and Barboleusaz before reaching Villars-sur-Ollon at approximately the halfway point, then continues above the resort on open alpine road to the summit. This is the version the Tour de Suisse uses when it runs the climb in full.
From Villars-sur-Ollon (above the resort): 7.4 kilometres, 467 metres of elevation gain, up to 13% gradient. Starting at 1,309 metres and finishing at 1,775 metres — a concentrated punch without the long approach that the full climb provides. This is the section Stage 5 uses for its partial circuit crossings and what Pogacar's rivals climb four times today without anything that feels like a descent's worth of recovery.
Descent to Les Diablerets: the far side of the pass drops toward Les Diablerets (1,158m) at similar gradients to the upper climb. A loop over the col and back to Villars via Les Diablerets requires a return option — either backtrack over the pass or arrange a vehicle return. The road into Les Diablerets is quieter than the approach from the Rhône valley.
The Road Up from Bex
The town of Bex sits at 440 metres in the valley floor. From here, the full Col de la Croix ascent begins. Bex has a train station on the Lausanne-Geneva main line (Aigle is the closest major hub, about 5 kilometres east); riders who want to base in the valley and climb rather than descend can take the train down, ride up from the station, and return by the same route.
The road from Bex is accessible but not trivial in terms of traffic. The lower stretch passes through small Vaud villages at a gradient that builds steadily before the climb proper starts above Ollon. The road narrows above Gryon and becomes essentially a mountain road — one car width with passing places — for most of the upper section. Traffic is light except on summer weekends.
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Bretaye plateau. Above Villars-sur-Ollon, a five-kilometre climb gains 350 metres at 7% average to the Bretaye plateau at 1,806 metres. The road is a non-through-route, keeping traffic minimal. Summit views cover the Dents du Midi to the west and the high Bernese Alps to the east. A good extension to any Villars-based ride day.
Col des Mosses. From Aigle on the main valley road, the Col des Mosses (1,445m) climbs 17 kilometres northwest at a more moderate 4.7% average. A classic Vaud pass that connects the Rhône valley with the Pays-d'Enhaut and on to Château-d'Oex. Less steep than the Croix but adds significant volume to a multi-pass day.
Route des Grandes Alpes connection. Riders following the classic Route des Grandes Alpes from Geneva pass through Aigle and the Rhône valley. The Col de la Croix is a detour off the main route but worth the deviation for athletes who want to add genuinely hard climbing to the grande traversée.
When to Ride
Late May through September. Snow clears from the upper approaches to the Col de la Croix by mid-May in most years. June is particularly good: clear roads, quiet traffic, temperatures at altitude in the 12–18°C range. September brings the clearest light and a return to lower crowds after the August tourism peak.
July and August are warm even at 1,300 metres. Morning starts avoid the peak heat and the road's busiest traffic windows.
Where to Base
Villars-sur-Ollon is the most practical choice for riders targeting the Col de la Croix and the Bretaye plateau. Standard Alpine resort accommodation — hotels and self-catering apartments — with direct road access to the upper climbs. The Transports Publics du Chablais rack railway connects Villars to Aigle on the main line in about 22 minutes; bikes travel on this service with a surcharge. No car required if arriving by train.
Aigle is the valley anchor for the wider area — a proper Vaud town with a medieval château, the Musée du Vin (the surrounding Chablais and Lavaux areas are significant wine country), and connections to multiple Alpine passes. Useful as a base for riders who want to spread across several different days of climbing in the region.
Bex offers a lower-altitude base with direct access to the full Col de la Croix ascent from the valley floor. Smaller than Aigle; fewer services; closer to the start of the climb.
Getting There
By train: Lausanne to Aigle takes about 45 minutes by fast train. Geneva Airport to Aigle is roughly 80 minutes. From Aigle, the rack railway to Villars-sur-Ollon runs bikes on a pre-booking basis. Regional trains to Bex from Lausanne/Geneva run every 30 minutes.
By car: A9 motorway (E27) runs the full length of the Rhône valley. Exit at Aigle for Villars-sur-Ollon (follow signs for Bex, then Ollon, then Villars). From Geneva: 80 minutes. From Zürich: 2.5 hours via the A1/A12 through Bern. From Milan via the Simplon: approximately 2 hours 40 minutes.
By air: Geneva Airport is the primary gateway. Zürich and Basel both connect via train in under two hours.
What Else to Do
Aigle château and the Musée du Vin. The fortified 15th-century château in the middle of Aigle's vineyards houses the Swiss wine museum. Worth a rest day or a post-ride afternoon.
Lavaux vineyards on Lake Geneva. Montreux is 25 minutes by train from Aigle. The terraced Lavaux vineyards between Vevey and Lausanne are UNESCO World Heritage terrain and an essentially flat cycling route with lake views — a genuine rest-day ride with zero vertical ambition required.
Les Diablerets and Glacier 3000. The cable car from Les Diablerets village reaches 3,000 metres at the glacier above. A rest day option for non-cyclists in your group or for riders who want one genuinely alpine non-pedalling experience in the vicinity.
Frequently Asked
How does the Col de la Croix compare to the classics? At 18.2km from Ollon at 7.2% average, it is a longer and harder climb than most riders expect from a Swiss pass that doesn't appear on standard lists. The steepest sections (15.9%) are harder than anything on the Tour de France's famous Alpe d'Huez. Riders coming from flatter terrain should not underestimate it.
Is there a cycling community in Villars-sur-Ollon? Yes. The resort hosts UCI Gran Fondo World Series events in summer, and the local Vaud cycling scene is active. Connect with riders based in the area via ZealZag's Vaud Alps page.
Can I ride Stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse exactly? The roads are public and the col is open year-round above mid-May. A 150km circuit that includes four crossings of the Col de la Croix requires serious preparation and a very long day. Most visitors ride the climb one or two times on a day trip and consider that sufficient.
For Stage 5 race coverage, see our Tour de Suisse Stage 5 field report.