The Col du Glandon (1,924m) is a high mountain pass in the Savoie department in France. It connects two popular towns among cyclists, Le Bourg d’Oisans in the southwest and La Chambre in the northeast in the French Alps.
The best time for cycling around this area is from June to September when the weather is warm and dry. The road is closed to cars during the winter months.
The Col du Glandon can be climbed from two directions;
- From La Chambre (northeast)
- From Barrage du Verney (southwest)
Starting point : La Chambre
La Chambre is a popular town among cyclists, with the Col du Glandon and Col de la Madeleine nearby.
La Chambre is located northeast of Col du Glandon. It’s a long and steep climb from here, 19.5km, with an average gradient of 7.3%. The last 2km is the steepest, with gradients exceeding 10%.
| Col du Glandon from La Chambre | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 19.5km |
| Climb category | HC |
| Elevation gain | 1,426m |
| Minimum elevation | 511m |
| Maximum elevation | 1,931m |
| Average gradient | 7.3% |
| Maximum gradient | 13.7% |
| Strava segment | Col du Glandon from La Chambre |
Starting point : Barrage du Verney
The Barrage du Verney is a dam located next to the small mountain village of Allemond.
Many cyclists also do the Alpe d’Huez, and Col du Glandon climbs on the same ride. If you’re coming from Le Bourg d’Oisans, turn left (or right if you’re descending from the Alpe d’Huez summit) onto D211B around the halfway point up Alpe d’Huez. Continue to descend towards Villard-Reculas and eventually the Barrage du Verney (Verney Dam).
The actual climb segment to Col du Glandon begins from Barrage du Verney. The climb from here is 26.3km long and averages 4.4%. The first 5km are relatively flat before the steep gradient starts to kick in. There are two short downhill sections from kilometers 11 to 13 and 22 to 24.
After 20km, you’ll arrive at the Lac de Grand’Maison. Do remember to stop and take in the breathtaking views.
Once reaching the summit, you can also continue towards Col de la Croix Fer, only 3km away.
| Col du Glandon from Barrage du Verney | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 26.3km |
| Climb category | HC |
| Elevation gain | 1,354m |
| Minimum elevation | 717m |
| Maximum elevation | 1,882m |
| Average gradient | 4.4% |
| Maximum gradient | 15.0% |
| Strava segment | Col du Glandon from Barrage du Verney |
Col du Glandon in the Tour de France
Col du Glandon is an Hors Catégorie (HC) climb and has featured in the Tour de France 15 times since 1947. The last time it featured was on Stage 18 in 2015, won by Romain Bardet.