Road · France
Col de Montgenèvre from Briançon
A mountainous 12 km road cycling route from Briançon through Le Fontenil, L'Envers de Fontenil and La Vachette, with 610 m of climbing over the Le Fontenil climb. Most of it (8.8 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
- 12.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 610 m
- Riding time
- 53 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jul to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Briançon
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 610 m
- 12 km
Route description
- Briançon
- Le Fontenil
- L'Envers de Fontenil
- Le Fontenil climb
- La Vachette
- Les Alberts
Starting in Briançon, this route heads towards Le Fontenil and L'Envers de Fontenil within the first 2.3 km. From here begins a 9.9 km climb gaining 573 m at an average gradient of 5.8%, reaching a maximum of 8.7%, culminating at the Col de Montgenèvre at 1851 m. The lowest point of the route is at 1277 m near the 2.2 km mark.
The surface is almost entirely paved (98%), with a small 2% gravel section. Most of the ride (8.8 km, 72%) is on main roads, including 8.6 km on the N 94, without cycle lanes. Minor roads account for 2.4 km and quiet streets 0.7 km. Climbing dominates 82% of the route with some descending and flat sections.
Facilities include several cafés, bakeries, supermarkets, and drinking water mostly near the start and finish. A notable stretch of 5.6 km from 6 km to 11.6 km lacks cafés, shops, or water. The Belvédère Panoramique Montgenèvre-Clarée viewpoint lies near 9.4 km. Bail out points and bike shops are near the start and finish in Briançon.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Le Fontenil climb (9.9 km at 5.8 %).
- Tops out at 1,851 m, 12.2 km in.
Highlights
- Col de Montgenèvre at 1851 m
- Belvédère Panoramique Montgenèvre-Clarée viewpoint at 9.4 km
- Climb starts from Le Fontenil at 2.3 km
- Route passes through La Vachette at 4.4 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Fontenil climb | 2.3 km | 9.9 km · 573 m · 5.8 % · max 8.7 % | 9.9 km · 573 m · 5.8 % | 1851 m |
Le Fontenil climb · full ascent, starts at 2.3 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 72% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 72% main road · 20% minor road · 6% quiet street · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 8.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Main roads used
- N 94 (9 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 82% climbing · 10% descending · 8% flat
- Steep sections
- 7.7 km over 5% · 0.7 km over 8%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 42 cafés and restaurants, 3 shops, 10 water points, 9 public toilets and 4 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.7 kmRoue Libre · bike shop · 530 m off route
- 1.1 kmSherpa Supermarché Briançon · convenience store · 140 m off route
- 1.2 kmPharmacie du Champs de Mars · pharmacy · on the route
- 1.3 kmL'atelier du boulanger · bakery · on the route
- 1.3 kmToilets · on the route
- 2.3 kmrobinet au lavoir du fontenil · drinking water · on the route
- 6 kmFontaine Crétet · drinking water · on the route
- 12 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 12.1 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 12.2 kml'Atelier · bakery · 240 m off route
- 12.2 kmSherpa · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 12.2 kmRepair stand · 100 m off route
- 12.2 kmPharmacie Serre · pharmacy · 320 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.1 km — Briançon (station), 1.2 km off route
Worth a stop
- 9.4 km — Belvédère Panoramique Montgenèvre-Clarée (viewpoint)
Stay after this ride
- Les Rois Mages · hotel · 70 m from the finish
- OVL Saint-Ouen · hostel · 40 m from the finish
- Chalet Saint-Bernard · hotel · 60 m from the finish
- Hotel Valérie · hotel · 70 m from the finish
- CGH Le Napoléon · hotel · 160 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Le Ventre qui Gargouille (40 m), Le Tourisme (80 m), L'atelier du boulanger (420 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- l'Atelier (240 m), O Tour de France (150 m), Praya (300 m)
- Shops
- Sherpa (80 m), Spar (190 m)
Know before you go
- 8.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 5.6 km without café, shop, or water from 6 km to 11.6 km
- Steep gradients up to 8.7% over 0.7 km
- Small gravel/unpaved section (2% of route)