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September 17, 2025
The Col du Galibier is a climb that makes your heart beat a little faster even before you turn the pedals. At 2,642 metres, it’s the giant of the Alps - high, exposed, and legendary in Tour de France history. From a cyclist’s point of view, it’s both awe-inspiring and humbling.
From the south via Col du Lautaret is the most commonly ridden approach, approximately 18 km at a 7% grade from the Lautaret junction. The gradient is steady but relentless, rarely dropping below 7%. The higher you climb, the more barren the landscape becomes. What trees there are soon disappear, replaced by rock, scree, and the jagged peaks of the Écrins massif looming around you. Oxygen feels thinner, and every pedal stroke starts to feel heavier. The last two kilometres are brutal - narrow, steep, often with snow piled at the roadside even in summer.
From the north, via Vallorie, is the classic route. First, you have to conquer the Col du Télégraphe (12 km at 7%) before descending briefly into Valloire. From there, the Galibier itself is 18 km at 6.9%, but the second half is savage. The valley lulls you into a false sense of security at first, but after Plan Lachat, the road ramps up fiercely- hairpins stacked above each other on a steep mountainside, gradients biting into double figures. You’re completely exposed, and the summit feels impossibly high, perched like a gateway in the rock.
Reaching the summit is a moment of pure satisfaction. The view of vast peaks and valleys stretching endlessly beyond the horizon, with snow-capped ridges cutting against the sky. The air is thin and sharp, with cyclists gathered around the summit sign for photos, sharing that quiet moment of respect.
The Col du Galibier is not just a climb, it’s a test of resilience. You fight gravity, altitude, and your own doubts. But when you crest the summit, you feel part of cycling history. It’s a climb that stays with you long after you descend.
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