Road · France
Col de la Cayolle from Barcelonnette
A mountainous 30 km road cycling route from Barcelonnette through Le Plan, La Combe and Uvernet, with 1,198 m of climbing over Cornille climb (2325 m). Most of it (28.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 29.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,198 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 07 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
- 1,198 m
- 30 km
Route description
- Barcelonnette
- Le Plan
- Cornille climb (2325 m)
- La Combe
- Uvernet
- Le Serret
- Fours Saint-Laurent
- Les Girards
- Les Juans
Starting in Barcelonnette, the route passes through several small places including La Gravette, Le Plan, Bréguet, Cornille, and Uvernet before reaching Fuveau around 12 km. The road is predominantly main road, specifically the D 902, which covers 28.9 km of the ride. Almost the entire route is paved, with only 1% unpaved sections.
The main climb begins around km 2.5 and continues for 26.9 km, gaining 1183 m at an average gradient of 4.4% with a maximum of 8.6%, summiting at 2325 m around km 29.4. The profile shows 90% climbing with flat sections making up 10% but no descending. There is a long 11.7 km stretch from km 4.3 to km 16 without cafés, shops, or water.
At the start in Barcelonnette there are multiple cafés, patisseries, and bakeries including Maison Padiou and Café de la Paix. A supermarket, Carrefour Market, is near km 0.1 off route. Drinking water is available at km 0.3, 4.3, 17, and 28.5. Toilets can be found close to the start and near km 4. A bike shop and petrol station lie near km 0.7.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Cornille climb (2325 m) (26.9 km at 4.4 %).
- Tops out at 2,325 m, 29.4 km in.
Highlights
- Col de la Cayolle summit at 2325 m
- Long 26.9 km climb averaging 4.4%
- Passes through Barcelonnette and Uvernet
- Paved main road (D 902) almost entire way
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornille climb (2325 m) | 2.5 km | 26.9 km · 1183 m · 4.4 % · max 8.6 % | 26.9 km · 1183 m · 4.4 % | 2325 m |
Cornille climb (2325 m) · full ascent, starts at 2.5 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 96% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 96% main road · 2% road with cycle lane · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 28.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Main roads used
- D 902 (29 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 90% climbing · 0% descending · 10% flat
- Steep sections
- 9.6 km over 5% · 0.6 km over 8%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 40 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 10 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 kmToilets · 190 m off route
- 0 kmPharmacie Bureau · pharmacy · 90 m off route
- 0.1 kmCarrefour Market · supermarket · 120 m off 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 kmToilets · on the route
- 4.3 kmL'Auberge du Bachelard · restaurant · on the route
- 4.3 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 17 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 28.5 kmDrinking water · on the route
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Maison Padiou (70 m), Boulangerie Mazan (40 m), Bar du Glacier (50 m)
Know before you go
- 11.7 km without café, shop or water from km 4.3
- 28.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 0.6 km with gradient over 8%
- 0.1 km with gradient over 10%
