From Thônes - 3-pass circuit - Marais - l'Épine - Bluffy

Departure from the Pré des Foires car park in Thônes.

(S/E) Head towards the historic centre.

(1) At the church, turn right onto Rue des Clefs, which becomes the D12, towards Manigod and Serraval. Leave the road to Manigod on your left and continue climbing to the Col du Marais.

(2) Continue on the D12, downhill, and join the D162, immediately after the church in Serraval.

(3) Turn left onto the D162. The climb is gentle until you reach Villard, then the slope becomes steeper until you reach the village of Bouchet Mont-Charvin. After a short descent, a gentle climb and a long flat section, you will arrive at Col de l'Épine.

(4) Continue on the D162, downhill. Pass Marlens on your left and reach the D1508 at a roundabout.

(5) Take the^second exit, then immediately turn right onto the cycle path. This passes east of Faverges, towards Doussard and Lake Annecy.

(6) In Doussard, the cycle path splits at a roundabout. Turn right (a sign indicates "tour du lac"), then, after Verthier, the path runs alongside the lake, crosses Angon and ends in Talloires.

(7) At the roundabout, just after the corner of the lake, climb the famous Talloires hill (100 m elevation gain). Follow the^D909A, and the climb ends at the Route de la Forclaz (legendary pass). Continue left to the centre of Menthon-Saint-Bernard.

(8) At the church, turn right onto the D269 towards Château de Menthon and Col de Bluffy.

(9) At Col de Bluffy, continue right on the D909 towards Thônes. Continue for about 1 km until you reach the crossroads with a memorial stone.

(10) Take the C1 on the right, Route de Menthon, and continue, keeping to the left, to reach the church in the village of Alex.

(11) Continue straight ahead, to the right of the church, on Rue du Tilleul, downhill to the D909, at the village exit.

(12) Turn right. At the roundabout, continue straight ahead on the cycle path towards Thônes.

(13) Pass the Glières National Necropolis and its Resistance Museum, and reach the Thuy bus stop, just after the sign marking the entrance to Thônes.

(14) Immediately afterwards, leave the D909 and turn right onto Rue des Vernaies. Then turn quickly left, then right. Just before the bridge over the Fier, turn left onto Voie Eugène Fournier-Bidoz and follow the cycle path that runs alongside the Fier to the next bridge, over which you should cross.

(15) Take the cycle path, which turns right, to cross the Fier. At the roundabout, turn left and head for the Pré des Foires car park, just after the bridge over the Fier (S/E).