Video: The Col Collective takes on Norway’s Trollstigen

For the Col Collective’s latest video, Mike Cotty heads to Norway to tackle the Trollstigen, a 19km climb deep in the mountains on the country’s western coastline.

Unsurprisingly, there’s a different feel to more familiar Alpine and Pyrenean scenery, with waterfalls, frozen lakes and sheer cliff faces aplenty. At the same time climbing is climbing and the road is also known for its 11 hairpin bends.

Legend has it that trolls roam the Trollstigen by night and turn to stone if hit by sunlight.

Cotty says of it:

“I’d experienced this climb once before, on a dark wintry day, continually watching my back with senses on high alert for every unknown rustle at the side of the road.

“Today was a different story, the early cloud burning through to reveal the road in all its splendour. I’ve been fortunate enough to ride many mountains over the years but there were moments during this climb that took me to a completely different world, where the tiniest touch of water on your skin makes you feel so alive, reminding you how the power of nature and the great outdoors is the answer to every question.

“I still get that same feeling when I watch these moments, I hope you do too, and one day you can experience the pure beauty of the Stigfossen waterfall and Trollstigen as I was lucky enough to do so."

Vital statistics

Start: Sogge

Length: 19km

Summit: 852m

Elevation gain: 802m

Average gradient: 4.4%

Max gradient: 10%

Ridden in June