The Col du Galibier (2,642m) is a high mountain pass in the French Alps popular with cyclists. The pass is located at the border of France’s Hautes-Alpes and Savoie departments.
Col du Galibier is the eighth highest paved road in the Alps and is closed during the winter. It links Saint Michel-de-Maurienne in the north with Briançon in the southeast.
Col du Galibier can be ridden from two directions.
- From Briançon (southeast) via Col de Lautaret
- From Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne via Valloire (north)
Starting point : Briançon
Briançon is located southeast of the Col du Galibier.
The climb from Briançon is very long (36.1km) but gradual. You’ll climb up to Col du Lautaret (2,055m) via the Pont de I’Alpe (D1091) before turning right onto D902 towards the Col du Galibier. It’s another 8km uphill from here.
| Distance | 36.1km |
| Climb category | HC |
| Elevation gain | 1,469m |
| Minimum elevation | 1,174m |
| Maximum elevation | 2,628m |
| Average gradient | 4.0% |
| Maximum gradient | 14.9% |
| Strava segment | Col du Galibier from Briançon |
Starting point : Valloire
Valloire sits to the north of the Col du Galibier. It’s a ski resort at an altitude of 1,214m. The climb from Valloire to Col du Galibier is 17.5km and averages 6.8%
Many cyclists prefer to do the Col du Télégraphe, and Col du Galibier climbs together. The 30km climb will start from Saint-Michel-du-Maurienne, followed by the Col du Télégraphe, Valloire and lastly, the Col du Galibier.
| Distance | 17.5km |
| Climb category | HC |
| Elevation gain | 1,190m |
| Minimum elevation | 1,400m |
| Maximum elevation | 2,590m |
| Average gradient | 6.8% |
| Maximum gradient | 13.0% |
| Strava segment | Col du Galibier from Valloire |
Col du Galibier in the Tour de France
Col du Galibier is a Hors Catégorie (HC) climb and has been featured in the Tour de France 31 times since 1947.
In 2011, it was climbed twice on Stage 18 from Briançon and Stage 19 from Valloire. On Stage 18, eventual GC winner Cadel Evans had to chase down Andy Schleck, who made a long-range attack on the Col de l’Izoard leading up to the Col du Galibier. Andy Schleck had a 3’ 45” lead at the bottom of the Col du Galibier. Although Andy Schleck won the stage, Cadel Evans managed to reduce the gap to 2’15”.
In 2022, the Tour de France again climbed the Col du Galibier twice on Stage 11 and 12. Eventual GC winner Jonas Vingegaard won the stage on Col du Granon, took the yellow jersey from defending champion Tadej Pogačar and held onto it to Paris.
Col Du Galibier was the second to last climb, providing plenty of action as Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard kept attacking each other on this climb.
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