The Twenty Highest Paved Cycling Climbs in France

by cycling-challenge.com

Region

French Alps

Duration

N/A

Guided Status

Guided

Difficulty

N/A

D-Score™

D4 - Epic

Overview

It's always extra fun to cycle extra high. Here are the twenty highest paved cycling climbs in France. Each climb below includes a link to a blog post with a map, photos, route description, etc.

Daily Ride Schedule

Day 1: The Twenty Highest Paved Cycling Climbs in France

The Twenty Highest Paved Cycling Climbs in France

Day 2: Col de l'Iseran

Col de l'Iseran

Day 3: Col Agnel

Col Agnel

Day 4: Col du Galibier

Col du Galibier

Day 5: Col de la Moutière

Col de la Moutière

Day 6: Col du Granon

Col du Granon

Day 7: Plan du Lac

Plan du Lac

Day 8: Col d'Izoard

Col d'Izoard

Day 9: Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Lombarde

Day 10: Val Thorens

Val Thorens

Day 11: Col des Gondrans

Col des Gondrans

Day 12: Col de la Cayolle

Col de la Cayolle

Day 13: Col de la Loze

Col de la Loze

Day 14: Barrage du Saut

Barrage du Saut

Day 15: Port de Boucharo

Port de Boucharo

Day 16: Col d'Allos

Col d'Allos

Day 17: Err / Puigmal Ski Station

Err / Puigmal Ski Station

Day 18: Col de Portet

Col de Portet

Day 19: Cim de Coma Morera

Cim de Coma Morera

Day 20: La Route des Lac

La Route des Lac

Day 21: Col du Petit St. Bernard

Col du Petit St. Bernard

Day 22: Col du Petit Mont Cenis

Col du Petit Mont Cenis

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

N/A

What's Included

About the French Alps

Read full regional guide

EUR 1895

per person

Go to Provider

Why Choose This Tour?

Cime de la Bonette is the highest paved road in France Col de l'Iseran is the highest paved mountain pass not just in France, but also in Europe.
Col Agnel (or Colle dell'Agnello) is on the French / Italian border.
It's the third highest mountain pass in Europe The grand-daddy of all French climbs: Col du Galibier Col de la Moutière: This quiet, quiet road starts near the beginning of the south side of Col de la Bonette.
It is poorly surfaced but entirely paved until the Col.
Col du Granon was for many years the highest Tour de France finish (1986), until passed by Galibier a couple years back Plan du Lac: A beautiful, lesser known climb in the Haute-Maurienne - not too far from the start of the south side of Col de l'Iseran Col d'Izoard: One of the most famous climbs in cycling.
Both sides of this climb are beautiful, but the highlight is "La Casse Deserte" - the top few kilometres on the south side.
Col de la Lombarde (Colle della Lombarda) is another high pass on the French/Italian border.
The Italian side is the far more interesting climb.
Truly beautiful.
Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe at just over 2300 metres.
Col des Gondrans is a deserted, poorly surfaced road Col de la Cayolle: This is one of my favourite south Alps cols.
Beautiful.
Col de la Loze: a beautiful new high Alps paved road (and the top 6 kilometres are closed to motor vehicles).
Barrage du Saut: On the way to Col de l'Iseran, just below Val d'Isère - beside Lac du Chevril - are several wet, dark tunnels.
In between these tunnels is a little known turn off up to the Barrage (dam) du Saut.
Port de Boucharo (2270 metres), on the Spanish border.
Col des Tentes (2,208 metres).
Col d'Allos: A truly beautiful climb.
I love the north side hairpins carved along-side a cliff.
Col de Portet: For the 2018 Tour de France it was paved (stage 17 summit finish).
La Route des Lac: Top-to-bottom, the best road-bike climb that I have done in the French Pyrenées - climbing past several remote dams/lakes.
Col du Petit St.
Bernard: On the Italian / French border Col du Petit Mont Cenis: Also on the Italian border, the road to Col du Mont Cenis (and the dam/lake) at 2,083 metres is truly fantastic - again, especially the Italian side.