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Col du Glandon from Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines

20 km road cycling route1,428 m climbing1 h 26 minGPX

Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines, France · Road

A mountainous 20 km road cycling route from Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines through Champ Fleury, La Rochette and La Chenal, with 1,428 m of climbing over the Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines climb and the Nanchenu climb.

Routed from the map This classic road was traced on OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

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At a glance

Best for
Short, climbing-heavy rides
Distance
20.1 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
1,428 m
71 m per km
Riding time
1 h 26 min
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
Surface
Paved
Best months
May to Oct
Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines

Map and elevation profile

Sight, in autumn, of Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines village and town hall, Maurienne valley, Savoie, France.
Photo: Florian Pépellin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,428 m
Distance
20 km
05001,0001,5002,000m0 km5101520 km1,917 m · highest, at 20.1 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines
  2. Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines climb
  3. Champ Fleurykm 2
  4. La Rochettekm 2
  5. La Chenalkm 8
  6. Nanchenu climbkm 9
  7. Saint-Colomban-des-Villardskm 10
  8. Les Rocheskm 10
  9. Valmaurekm 11

The ride starts at Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines (489 m) and climbs steadily up to Saint-Colomban-des-Villards at 9.6 km, gaining 610 m over 8.7 km at an average 7% gradient. This initial section runs mostly on the D 927 main road, which has no cycle lanes for 18.6 km and includes 7.2 km of roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits. Beyond Saint-Colomban-des-Villards, the climb continues for 10.4 km, gaining 817 m at an average 7.8% gradient with pitches up to 11.7% to reach the summit at 1917 m near Le Carrelet peak.

Almost the entire route is on paved roads, with only 1% unpaved surface. After the village of Les Moulins at 11.6 km, there is a long 7.9 km stretch without cafés, shops or water until the summit. There are five places to refuel along the way, including a restaurant off-route near the start and another near 10 km. Drinking water is available near the start, at 3.1 km and at 11.6 km. A bailout point is available at Saint-Avre - La Chambre station, about 1.5 km off route near the start.

The route passes under the 1700 m L'Ormet peak around 11.8 km and finishes near the Col du Glandon restaurant at the summit. The climb features sustained gradients with 17.3 km over 5% and 6.9 km above 8%, including almost 2 km above 10%.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs the Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines climb (8.7 km at 7 %) and the Nanchenu climb (10.4 km at 7.8 %).
  • Tops out at 1,917 m, 19.8 km in.

Highlights

  • Climb of Col du Glandon summit at 1917 m
  • Village of Saint-Colomban-des-Villards at 9.6 km
  • Under peak L'Ormet at 11.8 km
  • Almost 20 km ascent starting from 489 m

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. La Rochette 2.4 km
  2. Saint-Alban-des-Villards 6.3 km
  3. Plan Champ 7.4 km
  4. La Chenal 8.2 km
  5. Le Villard Martinan 8.9 km
  6. Nanchenu 9.4 km
  7. Saint-Colomban-des-Villards 9.6 km
  8. Le Chef-lieu 9.6 km
  9. Le Pont 9.7 km
  10. Les Roches 10.2 km
  11. La Perrière 10.3 km
  12. Le Chatelet 10.6 km
  13. Valmaure 11.4 km
  14. La Chal 11.6 km
  15. Les Moulins 11.6 km

On the road

  • Le Relais du Glandon (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Water 0 km
  • Water 0 km
  • Water 0 km
  • Water 0 km
  • Water 0.2 km
  • Water 0.3 km
  • Water 1.6 km
  • Water 1.7 km
  • Water 2.4 km
  • Water 3.1 km
  • Water 3.2 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines climb0 km8.7 km · 610 m · 7 % · max 9 %8.7 km · 610 m · 7 %1099 m
Nanchenu climb9.4 km10.4 km · 817 m · 7.8 % · max 11.7 %10.4 km · 817 m · 7.8 %1917 m

High point 1917 m at 19.8 km; low point 489 m. Passes beneath L'Ormet, Le Carrelet.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines climb · full ascent, starts at 0 km

8.7 km at 7% · 610 m
5006007008009001,000m7.3%7.7%7.0%7.7%7.0%7.8%4.3%0 km123456788.8 km1,099 msteepest 7.9%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Nanchenu climb · full ascent, starts at 9.4 km

10.4 km at 7.8% · 817 m
1,2001,3001,4001,5001,6001,7001,8001,900m8.3%9.0%9.0%6.8%7.7%11%10%6.6%0 km12345678910.4 km1,916 msteepest 11.1%

Know before you go

  • 7.9 km without café, shop or water from 11.9 km
  • 18.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 7.2 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit
  • 1.9 km climbing at over 10% gradient

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: žába · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Florian Pépellin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: ArnôdFrasse · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

About this route

Route line
Routed on OpenStreetMap roads with bicycle routing, then measured like a recorded ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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