Col du Galibier

Where it is

The Galibier links the Maurienne and Briançonnais valleys and is one of the highest paved passes in France at 2642 m. From the Briançon side, the climb starts in the Guisane valley, climbs steadily over the Col du Lautaret (2057 m), then turns north for the final eight kilometres to the Galibier proper. From the Valloire side it is shorter (18 km) but starts higher.

What makes it iconic

The Lautaret approach is the easiest line up the Galibier - long, scenic, and never excessively steep until the final climb above the Lautaret junction. Those last eight kilometres average 6.9 percent and culminate in a moonscape of bare rock above the tree line. The view back into the Massif des Écrins is among the finest in the Alps.

Race history

The Galibier has appeared in the Tour de France more than 60 times since 1911. It is often the Souvenir Henri Desgrange, awarded to the first rider over the highest point of the Tour. In 2011, the centennial of its first inclusion, the Tour ran a stage that finished at the summit - won by Andy Schleck after a famous 60-km solo break.

Pacing

The Lautaret approach is a tempo climb for the first 26 km. Treat it as steady endurance - keep eating, keep drinking, and conserve. The final eight kilometres to the Galibier summit are the real climb, and they hit harder at altitude than the gradient suggests on paper. Add 10 to 20 percent to your usual perceived effort above 2400 m.

Practical notes

Open roughly June to October - the summit is among the last to clear of snow. There is a café at the Col du Lautaret, but nothing between Lautaret and the summit. The descent toward Valloire is fast and exposed; carry a wind layer.