Region: French Alps
Climbing effort: 1035 cep
Elevation meters: 1381
Steepest kilometer: 9.4%
Steepest 250 m: 13%
Foot: 1379 m Top: 2744 m
Mean slope: 6.6%
Length: 20.8 km
From: Ville Vieille
Road conditions (2013): average
Other race bikers: 10-25 per hour
Motor vehicles: 30-60 per hour
Scenery and road:
(4/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: no
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Never believe a col is easy before you have made it. This certainly holds for the French side of Col Agnel, with 2744 m the third highest pass in the Alps after the Col de l'Iseran and the Stelvio. The first 7.5 kilometers are moderately steep (mostly 6-8%). Towards the end of this section, at Molines-en-Queyreas, take the road to the left to enter the valley leading towards the pass. At 1.5 kilometers after the junction, a relatively easy section with reduced and variable steepness begins. Here some nice old-looking villages skirt the tranquil road. However, the final 7 kilometers are hard with slopes of mostly 8-9%. In addition, here I had a strong adverse wind on both occasions that I climbed the pass. From the col, nearby Monte Viso (3841 m) can be seen if the weather allows. This tour can be extended with a warming up from the bifurcation of the D902A and the N94 near Guillestre (difficulty 229 cep, climbing 584 m, length 25 km).