The Col des Mosses is one of the best-known passes in French-speaking Switzerland. And why? Located in the foothills of the Alps, it is easily accessible from much of the Lake Geneva region and other densely populated areas. It's also often in the spotlight, as it's regularly used by the Tour de Romandie, the Tour de Suisse and even the Tour de France. Finally, it features on the route of the UCI Granfondo Suisse.

You can “do Les Mosses” as part of the classic Alpes Vaudoises loop, which also takes in the Col de la Croix and Le Pillon. If you're looking for an easier route, this 117km tour with 1600m of ascent is for you. Bonus: this route largely avoids the often busy cantonal road between Bulle and the pass.

Leaving the World Cycling Center in Aigle, you head towards Villeneuve on traffic-free roads. You then enter the more urbanized Riviera lémanique area, which you leave a few kilometers further on as you rise above Blonay. Enjoy the view of Lake Geneva! After gaining almost 500m in altitude, you arrive at Châtel Saint-Denis, where you find yourself back on almost deserted, undulating roads in the Fribourg countryside, heading for Bulle.

Here, you ride past the famous Château de Gruyères before entering the Intyamon valley. Instead of following the cantonal road, you follow the SwitzerlandMobility itinerary. It takes you through some charming villages, starting with Estavannens, where you can stop at Etape, a bike-friendly café well known to the local cycling community.

It's a good time to refuel, as things are about to get serious: a few kilometers further on, you briefly rejoin the main road before leaving it again at Montbovon in the direction of Lac de l'Hongrin. An ascent through a remote valley on another Switzerland Mobility route often overlooked by road cyclists.

Up to La Lécherette, the road surface isn't always first-rate but it's worth it because you're almost alone. Then it's just a few easy kilometers to the pass. From there, you have a long descent to Aigle to get back to your starting point and begin the recovery process at the café located in the World Cycling Center.