Col du Galibier via the Lautaret
Road cycling
- Distance
- 47.8 km
- Elevation
- 2,030 m
- Est. time
- 2 h 50
- Power
- 220 W
- Max altitude
- 2,637 m
- Avg gradient
- 4.0%
The climb: 42.4 km averaging 4.7% with 2,012 m of elevation gain from Le Clapier, including 8.5 km at 6.9% from the Lautaret to the summit, 12.1% at its steepest.
Time and power estimated for a 75 kg rider at 220 W, climbing without stopping. Route from OpenStreetMap, altitudes from Copernicus.
The big classic from the lodge, and a proper day on the bike. You follow the Romanche up the D1091: the Commères ramp, the Chambon dam, then the long drag up to La Grave, at the foot of La Meije and its glaciers. At the Col du Lautaret (2,058 m), turn left for the final 8.5 kilometres, the steepest of the day. The summit tunnel is closed to bikes, so you ride past the Henri Desgrange monument and finish on the real col, at 2,642 m, first crossed by the Tour de France in 1911.
- Summit at 2,642 m, crossed by the Tour as early as 1911
- Summit tunnel closed to bikes: you finish on the real col
- 8.5 km averaging 6.9% after the Lautaret
- Summer
- Road rideable from June to October, weather permitting.
- Winter
- Closed in winter · reopens in June
Allow a big day, 96 km there and back: set off early, eat regularly and refill your bottles at La Grave or the Lautaret. Keep a windproof for the descent, as it gets cold quickly up there, even in summer.
The D1091 is the main Grenoble-Briançon road: heavy traffic in summer, lorries included. You ride through around ten tunnels (Commères, Infernet, the long Chambon tunnel, Grand Clos, Serre du Coin, Ardoisières...), so front and rear lights on and bright clothing, even in the lit tunnels. The long Chambon tunnel has been open again since December 2017 and no cycling ban is reported there in 2026. At the Commères and Infernet tunnels, roadworks run until 30 October 2026: alternating traffic and a few full closures, including on 30 October from 9am to 3pm. The 2027 schedule has not been published yet. The Galibier tunnel is closed to bikes. The col is closed in winter, usually from mid or late October to late May or June depending on the snow: check it's open before you set off.