Our 3 best cycling climbs of the Alps

best cycling climbs of the alps - col du galibier 06

Discover the best cycling climbs of the Alps from our Alpine Cols of the Tour de France Cycling Holiday, a guided ride over the best cycling cols of the Tour de France with vehicle support – just like the pros!
Here are three of our favourite hors catégorie cycling climbs in the Alps whose names you will know from the Tour de France.

Cycling climbs of the Alps: The Col d’Izoard

Altitude:2360m
Start point :Guillestre
Length :31.5 km
Elevation :1094 m
% Average :6.9%
% Max :12.0%

Starting from the village of Guillestre in the Queyras Park of the Hautes-Alpes, the Col d’Izoard starts out easily with a long gradual climb from Guillestre to the D947 intersection at around 16km. Then things heat up with passages at above 8% until Arvieux & Brunissard, where the hairpins begin and the climb gets more challenging until the summit at 2300m+, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Notable for the spectacular Casse Déserte rocky formations near the summit, the Izoard has featured in the Tour de France over 30 times since 1922.

Back to top

Cycling climbs of the Alps: The Col de Vars

Altitude:2108m
Start point :Les Gleizolles
Length :14.10 km
Elevation :798 m
% Average :5.66%
% Max :10.6%

Not the hardest climb in the Alps, the Col de Vars is nevertheless close to our hearts as it’s one of our local climbs, situated in the Ubaye Valley not to far from our offices. A Catégorie 1 Col with almost 800m ascent in just over 14km, we climb the 2108m Col de Vars from les Gleizolles. The average gradient of 5.66% is deceptive, as the Col de Vars starts off gently before increasing to over 10% in sections in the final kilometres. Starting from les Gleizolles at the intersection to the Col de Larche, the first kilometres take the valley bottom by the spectacular Fort de Tournoux as far as Mélézan. From here the gradient increases, with a section of over 10% between kilometres 10 & 11, with good roads and spectacular views of the Ubaye. The bar at the summit provides a welcome refreshment! Col du Galibier profile on Colscyclisme.com

Back to top

Cycling climbs of the Alps: The Col du Galibier

Altitude:2642m
Start point :Col du Lautaret
Length :8.5 km
Elevation :585 m
% Average :6.88%
% Max :12.1%

One of the climbs that features the most often in the tour de France, and one with some of the most spectacular views, it’s impossible to speak of the Col du Galibier without including the Col de Lautaret. On paper, it seems deceptively easy with “only” 8.5km at 6.88% average, however add in the challenge of the final kilometre as well as the fact that the ascenscion begins at over 200m, with the 27.7km climb of the Lautaret from Briançon that we do beforehand, and the Col du Galibier is truly a giant! From the Col du Lautaret, the ascent begins at around 5% before increasing to a steady +/- 7% with two easier passages. The views on the ascent of the Serre Chevalier Valley and surrounding peaks of the Ecrins National Park.

Back to top

2023 Cycling Holidays in the Alps and Pyrenees

 1 150

Activity level: Challenging
Sat 17 – Sat 24 Jun 2023: Open
Sat 2 – Sat 9 Sep 2023: Open

 695 785

Activity level: Challenging
Thu 31 Aug – Sun 03 Sept 2023 : Open
Thu 25 – Sun 28 April 2024 : Open

 895

Activity level group 1: Challenging
Activity level group 2: Moderate
Sat 03 – Fri 09 Jun 2023: Open
Sat 23- Fri 29 Jul 2023: Open
Sat 09 – Fri 15 Sep 2023: Open

 1 050

Activity level: Challenging
Sat 01 – Sat 08 July 2023: Open

Discover Cycling

Our 3 best cycling climbs of the Alps

Discover the best cycling climbs of the Alps from our Alpine Cols of the Tour [...]

Alpe d’Huez cycling: 10 facts about the mythical climb

The Alpe d’Huez is a mountain located in the French Alps, in the department of [...]

Cycling climbs of the Pyrenees – 3 of the best!

Discover the best cycling climbs of the Pyrenees, from our Raid Pyrenean cycling holiday, a [...]

Mont Ventoux 2023 cycling holidays

Take on the ultimate challenge and ride the myth in 2023! We currently have on [...]

Our 3 best 2023 cycling holidays

Best 2023 cycling holidays : Custom road cycling holidays for individuals, cycling clubs or groups [...]

Cycling: our top 10 tips for climbing Mont Ventoux

Legend of the Tour de France and a mecca for cyclists from all over the [...]

Profile : The Mont Ventoux Climb

The Mont Ventoux climb is one of the most challenging in the Tour the France, [...]

5 things we love about…the Queyras!

1 : The Queyras is off the beaten track… in an accessible way! An hour [...]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *