Road · France
Col d'Allos from Barcelonnette
A mountainous 20 km road cycling route from Barcelonnette through Le Plan, Bréguet and Cornille, with 1,114 m of climbing over Le Signal. Most of it (18.1 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 1.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 19.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,114 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 25 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jul to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Barcelonnette
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,114 m
- 20 km
Route description
- Barcelonnette
- Le Plan
- Bréguet
- Le Signal
- Cornille
- Le Pied de la Maure
- Uvernet
- Pra Roustan
The route starts at Barcelonnette and soon passes places including La Gravette, Le Plan, Bréguet, and Uvernet. After about 1.9 km, the main climb begins and continues for 17.9 km, gaining 1111 m to the summit at 2240 m beneath Le Signal (2361 m). The climb averages 6.2% with some sections up to 9%. The road surface is almost fully paved (98%) with a small 2% unpaved section. About 93% of the route is on main roads, mainly the D 908, with no cycle lanes on those main roads and 1.5 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
The elevation profile shows the lowest point at 1126 m near the start, with nearly half the climbing in the second half. The route has 14.8 km over 5% gradient and nearly 2 km over 8%. Along the route, there are seven places and four shops, including a Carrefour Market near the start, and two restaurants at 4.6 km and near the summit. Water sources are available at 0.3 km, 4.2 km, and 12.9 km. Toilets and bike shops are present near the beginning, but the longest stretch without café, shop or water is 8.3 km between 4.6 and 12.9 km.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Le Signal (17.8 km at 6.2 %).
- Tops out at 2,240 m, 19.7 km in.
Highlights
- Col d'Allos summit at 2240 m
- Le Signal peak at 2361 m at 19.7 km
- Main climb 17.9 km long with 1111 m gain
- Route mainly on D 908 main road
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 91% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 1.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 92% main road · 4% road with cycle lane · 3% track · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 18.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- D 908 (17 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 87% climbing · 1% descending · 13% flat
- Steep sections
- 14.8 km over 5% · 1.7 km over 8%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 41 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 4 water points, 1 petrol station, 4 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmMaison Padiou · patisserie · 70 m off route
- 0 kmPharmacie Bureau · pharmacy · 90 m off route
- 0.1 kmCarrefour Market · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 0.1 kmToilets · on the route
- 0.3 kmDrinking water · 60 m off route
- 0.7 kmGranphi · bike shop · 240 m off route
- 0.7 kmGarage de Restefond · petrol station · 230 m off route
- 4.2 kmSpring · 130 m off route
- 4.2 kmToilets · 280 m off route
- 4.6 kmL'Auberge du Bachelard · restaurant · 230 m off route
- 12.9 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 19.5 kmBar Restaurant du Refuge du Col d'Allos · restaurant · on the route
Stay after this ride
- La Source · hotel · 2.0 km from the finish
- Le Sestrière · hotel · 2.0 km from the finish
- Hôtel du Hameau · hotel · 2.2 km from the finish
- Le Toukal · hotel · 2.2 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Maison Padiou (70 m), Boulangerie Mazan (40 m), Bar du Glacier (50 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Bar Restaurant du Refuge du Col d'Allos (150 m)
Know before you go
- 18.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 1.5 km on fast roads (80 km/h+)
- Longest stretch without café/shop/water: 8.3 km from 4.6 to 12.9 km
- Sections up to 9% gradient
