Discover the Vaud Alps by eMTB and road bike.

Vaud, with the Col de la Croix as its most famous climb, is also home to the international cycling sport centre (UCI) in Aigle, and offers endless possibilities for both mountain bikes and road bikes.

Together with former Dutch cycling champion and World Cup medallist Léon van Bon, I’m getting ready for two beautiful and multifaceted days, with the most important discovery being that eMTBs are incredibly cool, offer many advantages, are sustainable and make cycling in the Alps accessible to a wide range of people.

Our week in Switzerland starts off a bit differently from what we had in mind. “Two e-bikes?!”, I exclaim, clearly taken aback. Léon also can’t help but mention that we are both ex-pro cyclists and don’t need electric pedal assist. The guides, however, are adamant. “So we’re going to be two senior citizens on e-bikes for a day,” we remark with a smile and some self-deprecating humour. We can’t help but automatically make the link to elderly people when we see the bikes that have already become so commonplace in countries like Switzerland.

Starting from Villars-sur-Ollon, we begin our first climb in the Vaud Alps. It’s uphill right from the start, off-road on steep mountain trails and through lush alpine meadows. Completely drenched in sweat from the initial climb, we arrive at l’Alpage des Chaux, a traditional cheese-making farm you’d only see in true Switzerland. This is where we pause to catch our breath and share our first e-bike experiences with one another.

You won’t believe this, but… the e-bike turns out to be a godsend during the steep off-road climbs and, though we don’t want to admit it, is actually quite enjoyable! It is also very sustainable and keeps people out of their cars. It’s the ideal solution for people who find climbing mountains and steep trails on a regular road bike or gravel bike too strenuous. And… you still get some good exercise!

We explore the cheese farm and have a hilarious photo shoot with the traditional cow bells (a must in the Alps!). From there, we continue our eMTB trip and pass through the mountain village of Taveyanne, a secluded spot with panoramic views of the mountains of the Vaud Alps. We keep climbing to the Col de la Croix. Off-road, on the most beautiful little mountain roads.

With a GoPro on my helmet and fully focused, I follow the technical trail downhill to Les Diablerets, one of the authentic mountain villages at the foot of the high mountains. From the historic and medieval town of Rougemont, we ride along the Sarine river to Château-d’Oex, ready for a well-deserved local lunch.

To get fully acquainted with Vaud, we do another stage from Les Mosses to Leysin. This tour provides beautiful views amidst cows and the unique Swiss wooden chalets. We laugh, cycle and do a bit of work too, because, after all, that also needs to get done. We complete the last stretch without a photographer, drone or guide. Only then can you really enjoy the view, the freedom and the silence that is only occasionally interrupted by the chirping of birds. What more could you want?

Our journey through the Vaud Alps continues on the Col de la Croix, the famous climb that, in 2022, was still part of the seventh stage of the Tour de France. This time we are not on an eMTB, but on a road bike, as is fitting for former pro cyclists. Just like in a real race, the climb gets analysed. The gradients, the fastest times on Strava, and who has the advantage on which section. Fortunately, we have Tijn along, who reminds us that we are here to explore the region, not to race.

For the first few kilometres, we ride uphill side by side, without speaking. That’s how tough and beautiful the Col de la Croix is. The last section is steep, which is right up my alley. I can’t resist leaving Léon behind for a bit. The feeling of being a cyclist is the same for everyone, whether you’re in a peloton as a pro or as an amateur with a group of friends. Especially in a beautiful region like Vaud. A fight with the competition, a fight with yourself or a fight with the mountain? In essence, cycling is the same for all of us, and here in Vaud it is also very accessible.

As for the competition between Léon and myself: at the top of the Col de la Croix, our time difference is minimal. A beautiful descent follows, through the mountainous landscape of the Vaud Alps, with the snow-covered peaks of the Diablerets mountain massif behind us (with its summit 3,210 metres up) and in front the valley of Aigle, the town that is home to the UCI and where a guided tour also awaits us.

Aigle is home to the UCI, the international cycling sport centre. In addition to its headquarters, which employs 60 people, the centre provides training facilities for national and international athletes. There is a cycling track and a gym, and outside there’s a BMX track and a pump track. The UCI offers talents from countries where cycling isn’t commonplace (yet) the facilities to develop themselves.

The centre also allows individuals to book track clinics or organise corporate events. It is definitely an interesting place to take a look at, as there are beautiful, historic cycling photos everywhere, and there is a shop as well as a restaurant where you can enjoy a healthy lunch.

Belle de Gast is a former pro cyclist for team Parkhotel Valkenburg. Her wins include the Volta Limburg Classic. She currently works as a physical therapist, and Belle is Bicycle Mayor of Utrecht, to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy form of transportation and improve the cycling climate.

“Switzerland offers not only beautiful landscapes but also a well-developed cycling infrastructure and a cycling-friendly culture. Cycling in this country is a unique experience.”