Region: French Alps
Climbing effort: 448 cep
Elevation meters: 617
Steepest kilometer: 8.4%

Steepest 250 m: 9%
Foot: 650 m    Top: 1250 m
Mean slope: 6.0%
Length: 9.9 km

From: Centron
Road conditions (2022): average
Other race bikers: 0-1 per hour
Motor vehicles: 10-30 per hour
Scenerie and road: (3/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: no

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Other climbs French Alps

The most direct road connection between Aime and Moûtiers is the N90 through the valley of the Isère but for cyclists this road is dangerous. Many parts of the road are bordered by a cycle lane but the lane is mostly narrow, and cars and motorcycles drive fast. It is noteworthy though that the Tunnel de Siaix, which constitutes a part of the N90 here, is not an insurmountable obstacle because separated from the road a "galérie de securité" has been built, which can be used by cyclists. For those who tend to like cycling upwards, two alternatives exist, one on the orographic right bank of the Isère (the D85 and the D85b across the Côte de Montgirod-Hautecour) and one on the orographic left bank of the Isère (the D88 via the Col du Tra, described here). These are quiet or very quiet routes, the roads are not wide and sometimes even very narrow, and generally have many bends and hairpin bends. In short, these alternatives are great for road cyclists. The number of elevation meters of the four climbs varies between 617 and 775.

Coming from Aime the ascent to the Côte de Montgirod-Hautecour begins at the exit of the N90 to Montgirod. After an almost horizontal first kilometer, in the next six kilometers the cyclist climbs with eight hairpin bends to the village of Montgirod. There is little forest here, so you sweat badly when the sun is shining. The slope is almost always 7 or 8%. The last 3 kilometers of the ride are really beautiful. They start in Montgirod and run on a three meter wide road where I met only one car. Watch out for water drains across the street! The culmination point is not signposted.