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Col du Galibier from Valloire

18 km road cycling route1,221 m climbing1 h 18 minGPX

Valloire, France · Road

A mountainous 18 km road cycling route from Valloire through Les Clots, La Ruaz and Les Verneys, with 1,221 m of climbing over the Valloire 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
18.1 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
1,221 m
67 m per km
Riding time
1 h 18 min
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
Surface
Paved
Best months
Jun to Sep
Valloire climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Valloire

Map and elevation profile

Signpost at the Col du Galibier.
Photo: Bonzon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,221 m
Distance
18 km
01,0002,0003,000m0 km5101518 km2,628 m · highest, at 18.1 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Valloire
  2. Valloire climb
  3. Les Clotskm 2
  4. La Ruazkm 2
  5. Les Verneyskm 2
  6. Les Choseaux-Verneyskm 3
  7. La Rivinekm 4
  8. Bonnenuitkm 6

Starting from Valloire, the route begins at 1407 m and climbs steadily to Col du Galibier at 2628 m over 18.1 km. It passes through La Borgé, Le Serroz, Les Clots, La Ruaz, Les Verneys, La Rivine, and Bonnenuit early on within the first 5.8 km. The climb averages 6.8% with sections up to 10% gradient, and 57% of the elevation gain occurs in the first half.

The surface is mostly paved (97%), with a small 2% gravel/unpaved section. About 86% of the ride is on main roads, predominantly the D 902 for 15.4 km; 1 km has a cycle lane and another 0.7 km is on a path. There are 5.7 km on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h, and 15.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane.

Along the route, there is a 6.9 km stretch without a café, shop, or water from 10.1 km to 17 km. At the start, Valloire offers bakeries, cafés, restaurants, a supermarket, and a petrol station 228 m from the route. Water points are available at 0.2 km, 5.6 km, and 10 km, with toilets at 2.9 km and 9.6 km. Restaurants can be found at 5.3 km, 10 km, and near the finish at 17 km.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs the Valloire climb (18 km at 6.8 %).
  • Tops out at 2,628 m, 18.1 km in.

Highlights

  • Col du Galibier summit at 2628 m
  • Passing through Valloire and Le Serroz
  • 6.8% average incline over 18.1 km
  • Longest named road: D 902 for 15.4 km

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Les Verneys 2.4 km
  2. Les Choseaux-Verneys 2.5 km
  3. La Rivine 3.7 km
  4. Bonnenuit 5.8 km

On the road

  • La Pizza (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Au Chant du Pain (Café) 0 km
  • Le P'tit Galibier (Restaurant) 0 km
  • La Grange (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Le Kôsa Krûta (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Le K (Restaurant) 0 km
  • L'Hermine (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Les Mélèzes (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Le Plancher des Vaches (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Bistronomique Chez Fred (Restaurant) 0 km
  • L'Escarnavé (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Le Christiania (Restaurant) 0 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
Valloire climb0 km18.1 km · 1220 m · 6.8 % · max 10 %18 km · 1220 m · 6.8 %2628 m

High point 2628 m at 18.1 km; low point 1407 m.

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).

Valloire climb · full ascent, starts at 0 km

18 km at 6.8% · 1220 m
1,6001,8002,0002,2002,4002,600m4.1%7.0%7.4%7.5%8.0%4.5%7.8%8.4%9.2%8.3%7.5%7.3%8.7%8.0%0 km1234567891011121314151617.9 km2,628 msteepest 9.2%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Know before you go

  • 6.9 km with no cafe, shop, or water from 10.1 to 17 km
  • 15.6 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 5.7 km on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h
  • 0.3 km with maximum gradient of 10%

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Bonzon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Marc Guellerin mguellerin · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Florian Pépellin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 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 Valloire (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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