{"id":79136,"date":"2025-02-05T09:58:17","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T07:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centcols.org\/50-ans-dhistoire\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:57:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T13:57:03","slug":"50-years-of-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centcols.org\/en\/50-ans-dhistoire\/","title":{"rendered":"50 years of history"},"content":{"rendered":"

The idea of the Confr\u00e9rie 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Chamrousse, he announced with emotion and pride that he had just climbed his 100e<\/sup> col (diff\u00e9rent) ! Daniel, l\u2019un de ses copains de route rench\u00e9rit en annon\u00e7ant qu\u2019il avait fait mieux, car il comptabilisait d\u00e9j\u00e0 au moins 150 ascensions !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ce fut une belle matin\u00e9e : l\u2019id\u00e9e du Club des \u201cCent Cols\u201d venait de na\u00eetre !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surprised by this enthusiasm, accompanied by encouragement and suggestions, all he had to do was to write in 1972 a set of rules (always the same for over 40 years).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les premiers inscrits \u00e0 la Confr\u00e9rie furent d\u2019abord des montagnards : quelques Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9ens, mais surtout des Savoyards. Jacques Faizant, de Paris, (n\u00b0 7) \u00e9tait tr\u00e8s fier d\u2019\u00eatre dans les 10 premiers inscrits, il dessina les premi\u00e8res couvertures de notre revue annuelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1973<\/strong>The 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Confr\u00e9rie 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<\/sup> col diff\u00e9rent ? Ce fut notre premier Grand Ma\u00eetre. Lui succ\u00e9da un autre grand cyclo : Elie Bordat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savez-vous que c\u2019est notre Confr\u00e9rie qui inventa, d\u00e8s 1974, les coordonn\u00e9es millim\u00e9tr\u00e9es situant les cols sur les cartes ? Cette id\u00e9e fut d\u2019ailleurs r\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9e par les cartes Michelin et IGN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1975<\/strong>On 7 August, the port (pass) of Bal\u00e8s, dear to Pierre Roques, welcomed the 2e <\/sup>concentration sur les p\u00e2turages du sommet de cet exceptionnel paradis pour cycliste. La journ\u00e9e fut tr\u00e8s appr\u00e9ci\u00e9e. Lisez plut\u00f4t ce que l\u2019on pouvait d\u00e9couvrir le lendemain dans la presse locale : \u201c\u2026rarement il nous a \u00e9t\u00e9 donn\u00e9 de grimper dans un d\u00e9cor aussi grandiose, aussi majestueux. C\u2019\u00e9tait un v\u00e9ritable tord-boyaux. Cela tenait parfois de l\u2019impossible, du vrai col dur ! Tellement dur qu\u2019il y avait sur la cime les responsables de la Confr\u00e9rie des \u201cCent Cols\u201d. Comme on peut comprendre, toutes sortes de gens qui font tomber dans leurs filets nombre de cyclistes condamn\u00e9s par la suite \u00e0 pers\u00e9v\u00e9rer dans des ascensions sans fin\u2026 \u201c.
Michel Verhaeghe joined the club in 1975. He has now climbed 10,000 different mountain passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1976<\/strong>Michel Perrodin was the author of the first published list of Alpine passes outside France, and Claude Carle had the first 100 embroidered badges woven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1977,<\/strong> TF1 broadcast an excellent report on the Confr\u00e9rie. 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 Confr\u00e9rie, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1978<\/strong>The first list of Swiss mountain passes, compiled by Jean-Pierre M\u00e9rot, was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1979<\/strong>Publication of the list of 101 Algerian passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1980<\/strong>When 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, Fran\u00e7ois 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1982<\/strong>At 10 years old, the club now has more than 1,231 members, including 94 women and 40 foreigners from 8 nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1983<\/strong>The 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 V\u00e9lo-Club d'Annecy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1984<\/strong>At the end of the 1980s, the Fellowship had 2,000 members and the first regional meeting was organised in the Adour-Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es region. Regional managers are set up in each region of France and abroad. First magazine with a black and white photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1987, Ren\u00e9 Poty has been updating the \"Chauvot\", producing guidebooks (some in collaboration with M. de Br\u00e9bisson), itineraries and lists of passes in many countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1988<\/strong>By the end of the 1980s, the club had 3000 members, and the first foreign meetings (in Belgium and Switzerland) were organised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1989<\/strong>no national concentration. The rules of the brotherhood became the \"Rules of the Game\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1990<\/strong>Michel Verhaeghe has announced a list of over 3000 passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1991<\/strong>the brotherhood officially became part of the FFCT's heritage.
Publication de la nouvelle \u00e9dition corrig\u00e9e du catalogue des cols routiers de France (+ Andorre, Belgique et Suisse). Mise \u00e0 la disposition des adh\u00e9rents des listes de cols des pays suivants : Ecosse, Pays de Galles, Irlande, Norv\u00e8ge, Allemagne, Espagne, Autriche, Roumanie, Bulgarie, Albanie, Yougoslavie.
R\u00e9gis Paraz joins the brotherhood and is elected President in 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992<\/strong>the brotherhood is 20 years old, a national meeting at the Col du Luitel and the original cover of the magazine drawn by Jacques Faizant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1993<\/strong>The Roll of Honour appeared in the middle of the magazine for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1994<\/strong>The 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 Ren\u00e9 Poty, and \"Cent Cols en Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es\", drawn up by Alain Gillodes).
In the Pyrenees, setting up of the Cent Cols - Ordre des Cols Durs joint concentration (Alain Gillodes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1995<\/strong>The brotherhood has 4024 members.
First colour photos in issue no. 23 and organisation of the first Cent Cols holiday in Buis-les-Baronnies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996<\/strong>Marc Liaudon offers Cent Cols his computerised notebook of French collars. New edition of the Bible and creation of the Cent Cols clothing line.
De nombreux adh\u00e9rents du monde entier portent la tenue du Club. Le maillot embl\u00e9matique est maintenant reconnu et appr\u00e9ci\u00e9 !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997<\/strong>For administrative reasons, we had to set up an association to enable us to be independent of the V\u00e9lo club d'Annecy, which had provided administrative support for over 25 years. Since then, our association has been affiliated to the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Fran\u00e7aise de Cyclotourisme and issues licences. The president is Jean Perdoux, the secretary Henri Dusseau, the assistant secretary Ren\u00e9 Poty and the treasurer Nicole Faverot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1998<\/strong>creation 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1999<\/strong>, premi\u00e8re concentration italienne \u00e0 Montefiorino, organis\u00e9e par Gianni Solenni. Premi\u00e8re publication d\u2019une liste alphab\u00e9tique des adh\u00e9rents. Publication de la liste des cols routiers et muletiers de plus de 2000 m en Europe. La cotisation annuelle passe de 50 francs \u00e0 8 euros.
En 1999 est inaugur\u00e9 notre premier site Internet : https:\/\/centcols.org<\/a>designed, produced and managed by Philippe Carrez, with Ren\u00e9 Poty as editorial director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2001<\/strong>The magazine expands to 96 colour pages and 100 articles. Creation of the first CERP (Commission for Ethics, Reflection and Proposals).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2002<\/strong>On 12 January, the company will hold an Ordinary General Meeting, at which every member will have the right to vote at the AGM.
Changement de l\u2019\u00e9quipe dirigeante, en Assembl\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9rale extraordinaire le 9 mars. La nouvelle \u00e9quipe est compos\u00e9e comme suit : pr\u00e9sident \u2013 Claude B\u00e9nistrand, secr\u00e9taire \u2013 Ren\u00e9 Poty, tr\u00e9sorier \u2013 Michel Mathieu, vice-Pr\u00e9sident \u2013 Bernard Vieillard, secr\u00e9taire-adjoint \u2013 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2003<\/strong>Jean Perdoux was proclaimed Founder Chairman and Honorary Chairman, and Henri Dusseau was proclaimed Chairman \"Honoris Causa\".
The club has 5721 registered members.
Claude B\u00e9nistrand (assisted by his wife Cathie) is in charge of the annual review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2004<\/strong>, cr\u00e9ation de nouvelles Randonn\u00e9es permanentes (Corse, Dr\u00f4me, Alpes, Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es, LPE Atlantique-M\u00e9diterran\u00e9e) ; Changement de fournisseur des v\u00eatements, le nouveau \u00e9tant Bernard Th\u00e9venet.
Nouveaux catalogues : Catalogne, Ligurie, USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2005<\/strong>Creation of new permanent hikes (Haut-Languedoc and Ard\u00e8che). Publication of catalogues of French road passes and British Isles passes.
Creation of @ctualit\u00e9s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2006, <\/strong>parution de nouveaux catalogues : Autriche, Allemagne, Sardaigne, Roumanie, Navarre, Italie Nord-Est et Italie Nord-Ouest.
Cr\u00e9ation d\u2019une nouvelle Randonn\u00e9e permanente : Cent cols en pays d\u2019Azur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2007<\/strong>, cr\u00e9ation de 3 nouvelles Randonn\u00e9es permanentes : l\u2019Arc en Cimes, la ligne de partage des eaux en Espagne et 100 cols en For\u00eat-Noire.
First General Meeting outside the Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes region, in Fontbonne, near Montauban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008,<\/strong> first Cent Cols spring break in Agay.
Cr\u00e9ation de nouvelles Randonn\u00e9es permanentes : Cent cols en Triveneto (Gianni Solenni) et Cent Cols en Pays de Savoie (qui deviendra Cent Cols en Savoie Mont-Blanc) (R\u00e9gis Paraz).
Publication of catalogues for Poland, Hungary and Turkey.
Roland Grimaud succeeds Jean-Marc Lef\u00e8vre as head of Randonn\u00e9es Permanentes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2009, <\/strong>The Chauvot has been \"revisited\", with the passes repositioned in GPS coordinates and G\u00e9oportail links enabling the passes to be viewed online on 1:25,000 scale maps (Ren\u00e9 Poty and Mario Labelle).
Publication of the catalogue of Spanish road passes.
Elective General Meeting in Yenne, organised by Roger Colombo and CT Yenne.
Un nouveau Conseil d\u2019administration est \u00e9lu avec R\u00e9gis Paraz comme pr\u00e9sident, G\u00e9rard Birelli (vice-pr\u00e9sident), Thierry Labour (secr\u00e9taire g\u00e9n\u00e9ral), Michel Mathieu (tr\u00e9sorier), Philippe Carrez (secr\u00e9taire-adjoint) ; Chantal Sala est nomm\u00e9e r\u00e9dactrice en chef de la revue.
Establishment of a partnership with the Savoie and Haute-Savoie General Councils for the permanent \"Cent cols en Savoie Mont-Blanc\" trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2010, <\/strong>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).
Parution d\u2019un nouveau catalogue des cols routiers europ\u00e9ens de plus de 2000 m et d\u2019un premier catalogue des cols fran\u00e7ais interdits r\u00e9alis\u00e9 par Jean-Paul Zuanon.
Deux d\u00e9c\u00e8s affectent particuli\u00e8rement la confr\u00e9rie : au printemps celui du d\u00e9l\u00e9gu\u00e9 national pour la Belgique, Germain Geenens et, durant l\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9, celui de Roland Grimaud, responsable des Randonn\u00e9es permanentes. Rudy Pede vient remplacer Germain Geenens et Roger Colombo succ\u00e8de \u00e0 Roland Grimaud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2011, <\/strong>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 Harl\u00e9, Jean-Paul Zuanon and Bernard Pommel).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2012, the Brotherhood is 40 years old.
<\/strong>The anniversary was celebrated with a festive meal at the end of the trip to Lescheraines, organised by R\u00e9gis Paraz, and a General Meeting in Annecy, organised by Jean Perdoux, Henri Dusseau and the VC Annecy.
Il est marqu\u00e9 \u00e9galement par la parution du livre de Jean Perdoux et Henri Dusseau, \u201c1972 \u2013 2012, 40 ans d\u2019histoire !\u201d.
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 <\/sup>member, blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2013, <\/strong>establishment of the CoVal (Co<\/strong>mity of  Val<\/strong>idation des cols), which replaces CERP (C<\/strong>ommission dE<\/strong>theatrical, R<\/strong>and P<\/strong>roposal), with a smaller number of Board members and members with expertise in pass analysis (Claude B\u00e9nistrand, Jean-Michel Clausse, R\u00e9gis Paraz, Philippe Carrez, Michel Mathieu).
Assembl\u00e9e g\u00e9n\u00e9rale \u00e9lective avec mise en place d\u2019un nouveau Conseil d\u2019administration. Pr\u00e9sident : R\u00e9gis Paraz, secr\u00e9taire g\u00e9n\u00e9ral : Guy Harl\u00e9, tr\u00e9sorier : Michel Mathieu, secr\u00e9taire-adjointe : Nathalie Mauret, vice-pr\u00e9sident : Mario Labelle (poste devenu vacant deux mois apr\u00e8s, suite \u00e0 sa d\u00e9mission).
Chantal Sala has been reappointed editor-in-chief of the magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2014, <\/strong>setting up of the GT Info (IT Working Group, made up of Patrick Schleppi, Daniel Bossard, G\u00e9rard Birelli, Philippe Carrez, Jean-Michel Clausse, Graham Cutting, R\u00e9gis Paraz, Guy Ruffi\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015, <\/strong>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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

En 2015 nous comptabilisons plus de 7372 inscrits, originaires d\u2019une vingtaine de nations diff\u00e9rentes : Allemagne, Australie, Autriche, Belgique, Br\u00e9sil, Canada, Danemark, Ecosse, Espagne, Etats-Unis, France, Grande-Bretagne, Hongrie, Irlande, Italie, Jama\u00efque, Luxembourg, Norv\u00e8ge, Pays-Bas, Pologne, Slov\u00e9nie, Su\u00e8de, Suisse\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swiss, Belgians and Italians represent the largest contingent of foreign members who have joined our Confr\u00e9rie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

726 of our active members have climbed more than 1,000 different mountain passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2016<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n