Region: French Alps
Climbing effort: 986 cep
Elevation meters: 1031
Steepest kilometer: 12.8%

Steepest 250 m: 15%
Foot: 683 m    Top: 1714 m
Mean slope: 8.7%
Length: 11.9 km

From: Remollon
Road conditions (2013): average
Other race bikers: 0-1 per hour
Motor vehicles: <10 per hour
Scenery and road: (4/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: no

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Other climbs French Alps

This is a challenging climb. The mean slope is considerable (8.7%) but two parts, namely from 2.5 to 4 km and a stretch of 3.5 km just before the end exceed 10% on average. This fact is aggrevated by small-scale variations. The beginning is where the D53 splits from the D900b, just east of Remollon. At first the road crosses farmed land and then starts to be really steep when it passes through the village of Théus. This is the first of the two very steep parts, containing a section of 250 meters with a slope of 14%. After Théus the slope declines but the last 4 kilometers through forests and some meadows, starting near the parking lot from where the Demoiselles coiffées can be viewed, are killing. The inclination of the steepest kilometer measures 12,8% with an extreme, for a distance of 250 meters, of 15%. After the summit there is a short descend to a location with a superb view on the Lac de Serre-Ponçon and high summits behind it. The road is narrow but in a reasonably good condition. I met no other race bikers.