Col du Béal from Vertolaye

Vertolaye, 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.

13 km
Distance: 857 m
Elevation gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Paved
Surface

Download GPX Map

col du Béal — Photo: Anthospace · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent: 857 m
Distance: 13 km

Route overview

Suitable for riders looking for a short but sustained climb with significant elevation gain.

12.7 km climb to Col du Béal from Vertolaye, France, gaining 857 m at 6.7% average gradient.

The route starts in Vertolaye at 529 m elevation and extends 12.7 km up to Col du Béal at 1386 m. The climb rises steadily, with an average gradient of 6.7% and maximum gradient of 9.8%. Almost all of the climb is uphill, with 99% climbing and just 1% descending. The first half contains 48% of the elevation gain. The surface is 99% paved and 1% gravel or unpaved, riding mainly on minor roads for 11.9 km and a short section of quiet street for 0.8 km. The longest named road is the D 40, covering 9.6 km of the ascent. The route includes 4.8 km on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h. At the start near Vertolaye there are several facilities including the La Boul'Anges bakery, Casino convenience store, and toilets all within a couple of hundred meters. Water is available at 6.5 km and 12.7 km near the climb top, with the Gite-auberge du Col du Béal restaurant close to the finish. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 6.5 km from the start.

Highlights

Climb to 1386 m Col du Béal
Average 6.7% gradient over 12.7 km
Facilities at start in Vertolaye
Restaurant and water tap at summit

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Climbs

Climb	Starts at	Length	Gain	Average	Max	Top
Vertolaye climb	0 km	12.7 km	857 m	6.7 %	9.8 %	1386 m

High point 1386 m at 12.7 km; low point 529 m.

Vertolaye climb · starts at 0 km

12.7 km at 6.7% · 857 m

< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads: 93% minor road · 6% quiet street
Fast roads: 4.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used: D 40 (10 km)
Surface: Paved throughout
Gradient: 99% climbing · 1% descending · 0% flat
Steep sections: 11.3 km over 5% · 2.9 km over 8%

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 kmLa Boul'Anges · bakery · 140 m off route
0 kmCasino · convenience store · 110 m off route
0 kmToilets · 170 m off route
6.5 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route
12.7 kmGite-auberge du Col du Béal · restaurant · on the route
12.7 kmFontaine · water tap · on the route

Need to bail out?

0 km — Vertolaye (station), 810 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

12.7 km — Menhir du col du Béal (archaeological site)

At the start

La Boul'Anges · bakery · 140 m
Casino · convenience store · 110 m
Vertolaye · station · 810 m

At the finish

Gite-auberge du Col du Béal · restaurant · 40 m

Practical information

Surface: Paved
Route shape: Point to point
Riding time: 54 min

Know before you go

6.5 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 0 km
4.8 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Anthospace · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Communauté de communes Ambert Livradois Forez · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Sebleouf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons