Col du Galibier - 2646 metres
One of the most impressive climbs in all of the French Alps. High peaks, glaciers and over two kilometres of vertical climbing from the northern side. This climb is the third of the four in the Marmotte sportif event in July.
This is one of my favourite climbs, hence the number of images on this page, and it is certainly worth visiting the Alps early in the summer to ride the Col when it has just been opened.
See July
2003---July
2002---June 2002---July
2001---May 2001---July
2000
Northern Ascent
| Start town : | St-Michel-de-Maurienne |
| Starting Altitude : | 712 metres |
| Distance : | 35 kilometres, 11.5 kilometre ascent of Col du Telegraphe with four kilometre descent to Valloire then 18.5 kilometre climb of Col du Galibier |
| Vertical Climb : | 2100 metres |
| Gradient : | Col du Telegraphe : 7.3%
average - 9% maximum |
| Comments : | This information includes the climb of the Col du Telegraphe as the Telegraphe has to be climbed before the Galibier with climbing from St-Michel-de-Maurienne. |
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The view as the gradient eases for a kilometre soon after Valloire. |
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The mountain view when climbing above Valloire. |
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The view when climbing a few kilometres above Valloire on the northern ascent. |
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A couple of kilometres above the Plan Lachat, you can look back at the view of the hairpins and the road dropping down towards Valloire. |
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The higher you climb, the better the view becomes with this image taken three kilometres after the Plan Lachat. |
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Descending towards Valloire, just before the hairpins above Plan Lachat. |
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The view down the Col after descending for three kilometres on the northern side. |
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With three kilometres left to climb, the Col is at the top of the skyline. |
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Looking north at the road below from the Col. |
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The view of the northern ascent winding its way up the mountainside. |
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The view from the refuge looking back down the northern ascent. |
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The view of the Col before it is open, taken in May 2001. |
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The view of the Grand Galibier when descending the northern side of the Col du Galibier, with the snow banks line the road early in the summer. |
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The view from the Col of the last few hundred metres of the northern side. |
Southern Ascent
| Start town : | Col du Lautaret |
| Starting Altitude : | 2058 metres |
| Distance : | 8.5 kilometres |
| Vertical Climb : | 585 metres |
| Gradient : | 6.9% average - 12% maximum
|
| Comments : | The last kilometre is the steepest but the Col is in view and close. |
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Descending the last kilometre before arriving at the Col du Lautaret |
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The Col du Galibier at dawn at the end of October 2002. |
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The view of whats to come after climbing past the Col du Lautaret on the southern ascent. |
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Mountain views when descending the southern side of the Galibier. |
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When climbing the southern side of the Col, the view of the refuge to the left and the Col above. |
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The breathtaking views of the Ecrins massif when descending towards the Col du Lautaret on the southern side of the climb. One of the many reasons why this climb is one of the most stunning roads in the Alps. |
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Near the summit of the southern side, the memorial to Henry Desgranges, founder of the Tour de France. |
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The view towards the refuge on the southern side of the Col du Galibier. |
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The view from the Col of the southern side of the climb. |
