Col de la Couillole from Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée

Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, FranceRoad

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.

17 km
Distance: 1,173 m
Elevation gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Paved
Surface

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Col de la Couillole — Photo: Jpmgir · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent: 1,173 m
Distance: 17 km

Route overview

This ride suits cyclists prepared for a sustained 16.6 km climb with over 1100 m elevation gain.

A 16.6 km paved climb in France from Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée to Col de la Couillole with 1173 m elevation gain.

The route starts at 501 m in Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée and climbs steadily for 16.5 km to Col de la Couillole at 1674 m. The average gradient is 7.1%, with sections reaching a maximum of 10.7%. The ascent is mostly uphill with 98% climbing, and only 1% flat or downhill. The entire 16.4 km are on main roads, predominantly the M 30, without any cycle lanes. The surface is fully paved. After Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, there is a 6.3 km stretch without any café, shop, or water between km 4.3 and 10.6. Several places to eat and drink are close to the route, including restaurants at 4.3 km (Auberge Lo Robur), 10.7 km (Le Païsot), and a restaurant and convenience store at the start. Drinking water is available at km 0, 10.7, and 15.1. Toilets are found near the start and at 11.5 km. The peak of l'Arghias lies 200 m off the road near km 16.1. The final stop after the climb is the Auberge Quintessence restaurant, just off route at 16.4 km.

Highlights

Col de la Couillole summit at 1674 m
Steep sections up to 10.7% gradient
Restaurants at 4.3, 10.7, and 16.4 km
Peak l'Arghias close to route at 16.1 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Climbs

Climb	Starts at	Length	Gain	Average	Max	Top
Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée climb	0 km	16.5 km	1173 m	7.1 %	10.7 %	1674 m

High point 1674 m at 16.5 km; low point 501 m.

Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée climb · starts at 0 km

16.5 km at 7.1% · 1173 m

< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads: 99% main road
Main roads: 16.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Main roads used: M 30 (16 km)
Surface: Paved throughout
Gradient: 98% climbing · 1% descending · 1% flat
Steep sections: 14.6 km over 5% · 5.1 km over 8% · 1 km over 10%

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

0 kmBar · on the route
0 kmProxi · convenience store · 70 m off route
0 kmDrinking water · on the route
0.2 kmToilets · on the route
4.3 kmAuberge Lo Robur · restaurant · 310 m off route
10.7 kmLe Païsot · restaurant · 90 m off route
10.7 kmConvenience store · 120 m off route
10.7 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
11.5 kmToilets · 90 m off route
15.1 kmDrinking water · on the route
16.4 kmAuberge Quintessence · restaurant · 40 m off route

Worth a stop

16.1 km — l'Arghias (peak, 1734 m)

At the start

Proxi · convenience store · 80 m
Snack chez coco · restaurant · 210 m

At the finish

Auberge Quintessence · restaurant · 40 m

Stay after this ride

Chalet des Buisses · guest house · 2.4 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface: Paved
Route shape: Point to point
Riding time: 1 h 11 min

Know before you go

6.3 km without café, shop, or water from km 4.3 to 10.6
16.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Jpmgir · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: MOSSOT · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons