{"id":27053,"date":"2026-07-16T13:57:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T11:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=27053"},"modified":"2026-07-16T13:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T11:58:09","slug":"steilste-klimmen-franse-alpen-fietsen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/frankrijk\/franse-alpen\/steilste-klimmen-franse-alpen-fietsen","title":{"rendered":"The Steepest Climbs in the French Alps, from Galibier to La Tougn\u00e8te"},"content":{"rendered":"

Which climb in the French Alps is actually the toughest? That depends on the yardstick: average gradient, maximum sections, total metres of elevation, or absolute altitude. Here, the combination of steepness, length, metres of elevation, and absolute altitude counts. An Alpine climb only becomes truly tough when those four come together. This is a list of the toughest climbs in the French Alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Col de la Loze<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 7 toughest climbs in the French Alps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We are using the Profile Index of CyclingCols<\/a><\/strong> as a starting point. That index combines a number of factors into a single figure per climb. The higher it is, the tougher the overall package. Handy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Col du Galibier <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

From Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne<\/strong> The route covers 18.2 km, with 1,239 metres of elevation gain and an average gradient of 7% on the north-facing side. Maximum gradient over 1 km: 9.5%. The summit is at 2642 m<\/strong> and the total elevation gain from the valley is 2,095 metres. The final 8 km barely dip below 10%. This is a climb that combines distance, elevation, gradient and Tour history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top of the Galibier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Galibier,<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. La Tougn\u00e8te \u2013 Profile Index 1431<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is a beautiful project where money is being spent on reinventing a mountain climb. La Tougn\u00e8te, along with Col de la Loze, is a project by Les Trois Vall\u00e9es. It's ambitious! From Mo\u00fbtiers<\/strong> Heading towards Les M\u00e9nuires, you\u2019ll climb 2,052 metres in altitude at an average gradient of 9.8%. What\u2019s the maximum? 27%<\/strong>. That\u2019s the steepest gradient of any of the Savoie climbs in the data. What\u2019s more, you\u2019re 24.3 km above the 5%. Outside the Tour circuit, this is one of the toughest climbs in this selection. An added bonus: it\u2019s car-free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read Ruth's blog about la Tougn\u00e8te below. She already went on a trip a few years ago. What a monster climb! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cycling in Vall\u00e9e des Belleville: paradise for adventurous cyclists\u00a0<\/a><\/blockquote>