The idea of the Confrérie des Cent Cols was born on a magnificent autumn day in 1970, during the ascent of the beautiful and rather difficult Col du Luitel, near Grenoble in the Alps. In fact, this place was the innocent witness to the dream of a mountain-loving cyclist.
Near the poetic Lac Luitel and the peat bogs that border the summit, Jean Perdoux suggested to Daniel Legat (Cent Cols no. 6), Georges Ducatillon (Cent Cols no. 434), Pierre Fructus (Cent Cols no. 69) and Henri Voiron, his hiking companions for the day, that they celebrate a small event.
In Chamrousse, he announced with emotion and pride that he had just climbed his 100e (different) pass! Daniel, one of his riding buddies, added that he'd done better, as he'd already clocked up at least 150 climbs!
It was a great morning: the idea of the "Cent Cols" Club was born!
At the time, Jean Perdoux was a member of the Executive Committee of the French Cycling Federation. In 1971, he placed a small advertisement in the federal magazine asking whether other cyclotourists were interested in climbing mountain passes. He received almost 200 replies.
Surprised by this enthusiasm, accompanied by encouragement and suggestions, all he had to do was write, in 1972A set of rules (always the same for over 40 years).
Simplicity, friendship, sharing a common passion and exchanging information were all part of the Club's spirit from the outset. These are the ideas that we all defend and nurture today.
The first members of the Confrérie were mountain people: some from the Pyrenees, but mainly from Savoie. Jacques Faizant from Paris (no. 7) was very proud to be one of the first 10 members, and he designed the first covers of our annual magazine.
1973The club's first official newsletter appeared, edited by Jean Perdoux. Marcel Bioud presented the members of the "Cent Cols" Club with an initial list of road and mule passes in the Northern Alps, followed in 1974 by Francis Marty's list of passes in the Pyrenees.
In the autumn of 1974, the first national meeting was held above Lake Annecy, at the top of the magnificent, steep Col de la Forclaz de Montmin. Eighty of the 150 members of the Confrérie took part. Marcel Bioud, a primary school teacher from Voiron, was a rare phenomenon at the time, arousing admiration and envy. Did you know that he had just completed his 842e different collar? He was our first Grand Master. He was succeeded by another great cyclist: Elie Bordat.
Did you know that it was our Confrérie that invented the millimetre coordinates for locating passes on maps back in 1974? This idea was later adopted by the Michelin and IGN maps.
1975On 7 August, the port (pass) of Balès, dear to Pierre Roques, welcomed the 2e concentration on the pastures at the summit of this exceptional cycling paradise. The day was a great success. Read what the local press had to say the next day: "...rarely have we climbed in such a grandiose, majestic setting. It was a real rollercoaster. At times it was almost impossible, a real hard pass! So hard, in fact, that the leaders of the Confrérie des Cent Cols were on the summit. Understandably, all sorts of people who get many cyclists to fall into their nets, condemning them to persevere on endless climbs...".
Michel Verhaeghe joined the club in 1975. He has now climbed 10,000 different mountain passes.
1976Michel Perrodin was the author of the first published list of Alpine passes outside France, and Claude Carle had the first 100 embroidered badges woven.
1977, TF1 broadcast an excellent report on the Confrérie. Many of the Club's pioneers were present that day for the filming on the slopes of the Col de l'Arpettaz: Jo Routens, Robert Chauvot, Daniel Legat, Georges Ducatillon, Henri Bouchez, Elie Bordat and many, many others. A programme that surprised and provoked a lot of questions from the general public.
That same year, thanks to information gathered from specialists in the Confrérie, Jean Perdoux drew up the first list of road passes in France (1,368 passes). His annual bulletin became a magazine and grew to 70 pages.
1978The first list of Swiss mountain passes, compiled by Jean-Pierre Mérot, was published.
1979Publication of the list of 101 Algerian passes.
1980When the club reached the 1,000 member mark, Robert Chauvot, with the help of his wife Monique, invented the Bible, a complete directory of all the passes in France and a marvellous work that became a reference, served as such and still does. Until 1987, François Rieu was in charge of updating it.
It was also in 1980 that Jean Perdoux, who still prepared and produced the magazine (which had grown to 80 pages), handed over the secretarial duties to Henri Bouchez for one year. Henri Dusseau took over in 1981.
1982At 10 years old, the club now has more than 1,231 members, including 94 women and 40 foreigners from 8 nations.
1983The 1471 centcolists are now managed by Henri Dusseau, who has left the presidency of the V.C.A. and become "General Secretary" of the brotherhood. However, the association remains under the legal responsibility of the Vélo-Club d'Annecy.
1984At the end of the 1980s, the Brotherhood had 2,000 members and the first regional meeting was organised in the Adour-Pyrénées region. Regional managers are set up in each region of France and abroad. First magazine with a black and white photo.
Since 1987, René Poty has been updating the "Chauvot", producing guidebooks (some in collaboration with M. de Brébisson), itineraries and lists of passes in many countries.
1988By the end of the 1980s, the club had 3000 members, and the first foreign meetings (in Belgium and Switzerland) were organised.
1989no national concentration. The rules of the brotherhood became the "Rules of the Game".
1990Michel Verhaeghe has announced a list of over 3000 passes.
1991the brotherhood officially became part of the FFCT's heritage.
Publication of the new, corrected edition of the catalogue of road passes in France (+ Andorra, Belgium and Switzerland). Lists of passes in the following countries made available to members: Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Norway, Germany, Spain, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia.
Régis Paraz joins the brotherhood and is elected President in 2009.
1992the brotherhood is 20 years old, a national meeting at the Col du Luitel and the original cover of the magazine drawn by Jacques Faizant.
1993The Roll of Honour appeared in the middle of the magazine for the first time.
1994The Cent Cols brand, pins and T-shirts.
Creation of the Tour de France des Cent Cols by Henri Gomez and organisation of 2 permanent tours ("Cent Cols en Alpes", drawn up by René Poty, and "Cent Cols en Pyrénées", drawn up by Alain Gillodes).
In the Pyrenees, setting up of the Cent Cols - Ordre des Cols Durs joint concentration (Alain Gillodes).
1995The brotherhood has 4024 members.
First colour photos in issue no. 23 and organisation of the first Cent Cols holiday in Buis-les-Baronnies.
1996Marc Liaudon offers Cent Cols his computerised notebook of French collars. New edition of the Bible and creation of the Cent Cols clothing line.
Many members from all over the world wear the Club's uniform. The emblematic jersey is now recognised and appreciated!
1997For administrative reasons, we had to set up an association to enable us to be independent of the Vélo club d'Annecy, which had provided administrative support for over 25 years. Since then, our association has been affiliated to the Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme and issues licences. The president is Jean Perdoux, the secretary Henri Dusseau, the assistant secretary René Poty and the treasurer Nicole Faverot.
1998creation of the 1000 collars medal. The magazine has 80 colour pages and includes 75 articles written by members.
Cycling champion Eddy Merckx was admitted to the brotherhood and presented with his diploma in Belgium by Jean Perdoux and Henri Dusseau.
1999First Italian meeting at Montefiorino, organised by Gianni Solenni. First publication of an alphabetical list of members. Publication of the list of road and mule passes over 2000 m in Europe. Annual membership fee reduced from 50 francs to 8 euros.
Our first website was launched in 1999: https://centcols.orgdesigned, produced and managed by Philippe Carrez, with René Poty as editorial director.
2001The magazine expands to 96 colour pages and 100 articles. Creation of the first CERP (Commission for Ethics, Reflection and Proposals).
2002On 12 January, the company will hold an Ordinary General Meeting, at which every member will have the right to vote at the AGM.
The management team underwent a change at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 9 March. The new team is as follows: Chairman - Claude Bénistrand, Secretary - René Poty, Treasurer - Michel Mathieu, Vice-Chairman - Bernard Vieillard, Assistant Secretary - Philippe Carrez.
The CERP was renewed, with Guy Bodoin becoming its moderator.
The first network of national and foreign Territorial Delegates is set up. IGN-France layers go online (Mario Labelle).
2003Jean Perdoux was proclaimed Founder Chairman and Honorary Chairman, and Henri Dusseau was proclaimed Chairman "Honoris Causa".
The club has 5721 registered members.
Claude Bénistrand (assisted by his wife Cathie) is in charge of the annual review.
2004new permanent Randonnées (Corsica, Drôme, Alps, Pyrenees, LPE Atlantique-Méditerranée); change of clothing supplier, the new one being Bernard Thévenet.
New catalogues: Catalonia, Liguria, USA.
2005Creation of new permanent hikes (Haut-Languedoc and Ardèche). Publication of catalogues of French road passes and British Isles passes.
Creation of @ctualités Cent Cols and modernisation of the website.
At the elective AGM, the same team was re-elected. The CERP was renewed, with Guy Bodoin continuing as moderator.
2006, Publication of new catalogues: Austria, Germany, Sardinia, Romania, Navarre, North-East Italy and North-West Italy.
Creation of a new permanent trail: Cent cols en pays d'Azur.
2007the creation of 3 new permanent hikes: Arc en Cimes, the watershed in Spain and 100 passes in the Black Forest.
First General Meeting outside the Rhône-Alpes region, in Fontbonne, near Montauban.
2008, first Cent Cols spring break in Agay.
Creation of new permanent hikes: Cent Cols en Triveneto (Gianni Solenni) and Cent Cols en Pays de Savoie (which will become Cent Cols en Savoie Mont-Blanc) (Régis Paraz).
Publication of catalogues for Poland, Hungary and Turkey.
Roland Grimaud succeeds Jean-Marc Lefèvre as head of Randonnées Permanentes.
2009, The Chauvot has been "revisited", with the passes repositioned in GPS coordinates and Géoportail links enabling the passes to be viewed online on 1:25,000 scale maps (René Poty and Mario Labelle).
Publication of the catalogue of Spanish road passes.
Elective General Meeting in Yenne, organised by Roger Colombo and CT Yenne.
A new Board of Directors was elected, with Régis Paraz as Chairman, Gérard Birelli (Vice-Chairman), Thierry Labour (General Secretary), Michel Mathieu (Treasurer) and Philippe Carrez (Deputy Secretary); Chantal Sala was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the magazine.
Establishment of a partnership with the Savoie and Haute-Savoie General Councils for the permanent "Cent cols en Savoie Mont-Blanc" trail.
2010, distribution of departments to a new network of regional coordinators who organise regional meetings.
Birth of a new permanent route, the Divisoria (100 passes on the Atlantic-Mediterranean watershed in Spain).
Publication of a new catalogue of European road passes over 2000 m and a first catalogue of forbidden French passes by Jean-Paul Zuanon.
Two deaths particularly affected the brotherhood: in the spring, that of the national delegate for Belgium, Germain Geenens and, during the summer, that of Roland Grimaud, head of the Randonnées permanentes. Rudy Pede replaced Germain Geenens and Roger Colombo succeeded Roland Grimaud.
2011, Alain Gillodes and Chantal Sala organised their first spring trip abroad, to Ripoll in Spanish Catalonia.
Introduction of Info Cent Cols online and online voting on statutory reports at General Meetings.
Creation of a working group to draw up a catalogue of Moroccan passes (Bernard Giraudeau, Guy Harlé, Jean-Paul Zuanon and Bernard Pommel).
2012, the Brotherhood is 40 years old.
The anniversary was celebrated with a festive meal at the end of the trip to Lescheraines, organised by Régis Paraz, and a General Meeting in Annecy, organised by Jean Perdoux, Henri Dusseau and the VC Annecy.
It was also marked by the publication of the book by Jean Perdoux and Henri Dusseau, "1972 - 2012, 40 years of history!
Alain Brault joins the Board of Directors.
After thousands of hours of work, the Spain working group has produced a catalogue of over 15,000 Spanish mountain passes.
The Chauvot, with over 10500 French passes, is published in the form of a binder. A 2-day seminar is held in Turin to set up an Italian working group to produce a unified catalogue of all the passes in Italy.
7000 registratione member, blind.
2013, establishment of the CoVal (Comity of Validation des cols), which replaces CERP (Commission dEtheatrical, Rand Proposal), with a smaller number of Board members and members with expertise in pass analysis (Claude Bénistrand, Jean-Michel Clausse, Régis Paraz, Philippe Carrez, Michel Mathieu).
Elective General Meeting with a new Board of Directors. Chairman: Régis Paraz, General Secretary: Guy Harlé, Treasurer: Michel Mathieu, Assistant Secretary: Nathalie Mauret, Vice-Chairman: Mario Labelle (the position became vacant two months later, following his resignation).
Chantal Sala has been reappointed editor-in-chief of the magazine.
2014, setting up of the GT Info (IT Working Group, made up of Patrick Schleppi, Daniel Bossard, Gérard Birelli, Philippe Carrez, Jean-Michel Clausse, Graham Cutting, Régis Paraz, Guy Ruffié and Chantal Sala) and a new direction for IT policy, both in the allocation of responsibilities and in day-to-day management and implementation of projects. The principle of collaborative working ensures the sustainability of applications by preventing the system from relying on a single person.
2015, creation and implementation of a new website, following the work of analysing and expressing the needs of the GT Info.
Start of a unified database of mountain passes in all countries.
Establishment of a partnership with Openrunner, boosting the club's visibility on the Internet.
Robert Chauvot died in July, and the club sadly lost the author of the Bible (Catalogue des cols de France).
In 2015 we counted over 7372 registrations, from around twenty different nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States...
The Swiss, Belgians and Italians represent the largest contingent of foreign members who have joined our Confrérie.
726 of our active members have climbed more than 1,000 different mountain passes.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022 - The Brotherhood turns 50.
In March, Michel Verhaeghe, the Top, passed away. He was the first member to reach 10,000 mountain passes.
2024 - Death of Jean Perdoux
Jean Perdoux, founding president of the Club des Cent Cols, died on 13 March at the age of 87. This marks the end of a long chapter in the history of the Club des Cent Cols. We have lost our guide, but not his ideas.
This history is based in part on the book by Jean PERDOUX and Henri DUSSEAU, "40 years of history"by Chantal Sala and Régis Paraz, subsequently updated by Bernard Giraudeau and Enrico Alberini.
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