Region: French Alps
Climbing effort: 784 cep
Elevation meters: 1198
Steepest kilometer: 9.5%

Steepest 250 m: 11%
Foot: 253 m    Top: 1431 m
Mean slope: 4.8%
Length: 24.7 km

From: St-Jean-en-Royans
Road conditions (2020): average
Other race bikers: 5-10 per hour
Motor vehicles: 30-60 per hour
Scenerie and road: (2/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: yes

PHOTOS     Download gpx

         

Other climbs French Alps

This actually is a combination of the ascent to the Col de la Machine from St-Jean-en-Royans and the continuation to the Col de Chaud Clapier. Depending on your mood, the first part can be replaced by the parallel climb from St-Laurent-en-Royans to the Col de la Machine, which on this website forms the first part of an ascent to the Col de Carri. Of the two climbs to the Col de la Machine this is the more scenic. This is not due to the first eight kilometers, in which the road has a fairly constant gradient (7-9%) while it runs continuously through the forest. It's the next four kilometers ending at the Col de la Machine that are impressive. Here you get a great view over the Combe Laval, a cirque with almost vertical limestone cliffs in its highest parts. In this section the road climbs gently (0-7%) along the abyss. After the Col de la Machine eight easy kilometers follow (2% on average). The landscape is quite open and very green, but, because there are no rock faces, not very spectacular. The final four kilometers to the pass are again somewhat steeper (4-7%) but boring. The finish lies near the ski slopes.