Thank you the Tour de France!

It is hard to talk about French cols without talking the Tour de France!

You know: the frantic 3-week pro race which took place every July and goes traditionally clockwise or counter clockwise through the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Why "Thank you the Tour de France"? For one and only reason: the quality of the roads!! Every tour, before the Tour, the French road services makes sure that the roads the Tour will use that year are in just perfect condition! Considering the Tour goes through the main French cols, you are more or less sure to find - even at high altitude - good quality roads in these cols even though these roads have very little car traffic.

Best example? Certainly the road from Bédouin to Mont Ventoux (especially the part through the Forest): just as smooth as the top of a billiard table!