Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier
Although the Col du Galibier can be climbed from both sides, the traditional ascent is from the north starting in Valloire. At 2,645m above sea level it’s ranked as hors categorie (beyond category) by the Tour de France which in every day terms translates to ‘beast’.
From Valloire you’ll need to prepare for 18.1km of climbing and an elevation gain of 1,245 metres. Sounds straight forward, right? Er, not quite. Nothing is ever that simple! To get to Valloire you’ll also need to tackle the Col du Télégraphe so be prepared for a big day in the saddle.
The final kilometre is the toughest, pitching up to over 10 per cent in gradient, where the thin mountain air desperately tries to fill your lungs to keep you alive. Award yourself a ‘Galibier selfie’ as you admire the spectacular views of the snowcapped La Meije and Massif du Pelvoux mountains in the distance and don’t forget to pack a lightweight jacket so that you can blast the descent all the way back down to earth.
Length: 18.1km
Average gradient: 6.9 per cent
Maximum gradient: 12 per cent
Start elevation: 1,401m
End elevation: 2,645m
Elevation gain: 1,245m