The Col du Galibier

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The Col du Galibier in June

Here is our occasionally look at some of the climbs in and around the Alpe d’Huez region of Alpe d’Huez. First off we are going to start with the Col du Galibier

Needs little introduction and is up there with the like of Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux as a must do climb. You can either approach it from the south after riding the Col du Lautaret or the north after riding the Col du Télégraphe. The Galibier has been used numerous times in the Tour de France and will be ridden twice in the 2022 Tour de France once from each side. In addition the Col du Galibier features every year in the La Marmotte Sportive.

From Col du Télégraphe  – north – [Average gradient: 6.9% – Maximum gradient : 10.1% – Distance 18.0km – Height gain 1245m]

From Col du Lautaret – south – [Average gradient: 6.9% – Maximum gradient : 12.1% – Distance 8.5km – Height gain 585m]

This giant of a climb to 2645 metres marks the second highest col that we cover on our tours. It was first used in the Tour de France in 1911 and has been used over 30 times by the Tour de France since 1947. The climb can be tackled from the north after the Col du Télégraphe (considered the harder of the two ascents) and from the south via the Col du Lautaret where the monument to Henri Desgrange the first director of the Tour de France is located.

The steepest section on both sides is saved until the last 1km of the climb with gradients hitting am average of 12.1%. The views from the top are truly stunning. 

Key Climbs and Towns

  • St-Michel-de-Maurienne
  • Col du Télégraphe 1566M [1] [M]
  • Valloire
  • Col du Lautaret 2058M [1] [M]
  • [A] Col de l’Iseran 2770M [HC] [M]
  • [B] Lanslebourg
  • [C] St-Jean-de-Maurienne
  • [D] Briançon
  • [E] St-Chaffrey
  • [F] Mizoën
  • [G] Bourg d’Oisans

Cycle Tours featuring the Col du Galibier

We currently have three tours for 2022 featuring the Col du Galibier and you can find more details of the More Than 21 Bends Tours here. Equally if you fancy a trip to the region and want to do your own thing then we have a couple of cycling apartments in Bourg d’Oisans that we rent out during the summer months