Region: French Alps
Climbing effort: 628 cep
Elevation meters: 811
Steepest kilometer: 11.4%
Steepest 250 m: 12%
Foot: 1305 m Top: 2109 m
Mean slope: 5.5%
Length: 14.7 km
From: Les Gleizolles
Road conditions (2013): average
Other race bikers: 10-25 per hour
Motor vehicles: 10-30 per hour
Scenery and road:
(2/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: yes
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Though this col does not have really striking features, it is perfectly suitable for and hence popular among race bikers. Traffic density is low, road conditions are quite good and the scenery is nice. The climb starts near the hamlet of Les Gleizolles, at the bifurcation of the D902 and the D900. Up to the village of St-Paul the road lies in the valley of the Ubaye river and is of very mild steepness (an average of 2.5%). At St-Paul, with 8 km to go, the climb really begins. The steepest part (up tp 12%) is found in the hair pin turns after Melezen but after that the final 3 kilometers remain relatively steep (around 9%). Beautiful views on La Grande Combe (2938 m) open to the left. A bar with terrace awaits the cyclist at the col.