What are the distances and shifts in altitude involved along the Route des Grandes Alpes®?

Here are answers to these types of questions that you’re bound to be asking yourself. 

What are the distances covered?

• Main cycle route: 720km between Thonon-les-Bains and Nice.
•  Longest cycle route: 890km between Thonon-les-Bains and Nice, combining the main cycle route with a number of alternative sections (Lescheraines and Bauges, Col de la Madeleine, L’Alpe-d’Huez, Embrun and Serre-Ponçon Lake).
• Total distance covered by the six alternative sections: 607km.
• Longest alternative section: Val-Cenis - Briançon via Saint-Jean-d’Arves, Le Bourg d’Oisans, L’Alpe d’Huez and the Col de Sarenne pass. 
• Shortest alternative section: Serre-Ponçon Lake (75 km).

What about the sections or stages?

• We’ve divided the Route des Grandes Alpes® into 26 sections, of which 14 are along the main cycle route, with 12 stages on the alternative sections.
• The longest section: Barcelonnette - Guillaume - Valberg (76km)
• The shortest section: Cluses-Le Grand-Bornand (30km)
• Number of sections classed as ‘‘very difficult’’: 12.
• Number of sections classed as ‘‘difficult’’: 14.

What are the altitudes reached?

• Including both main route and alternative sections, the three highest points along the Route des Grandes Alpes® are: the Cime de la Bonette summit (2802m); the Col de l’Iseran pass (2764m); and the Col du Galibier pass (2642m).
• The lowest point, including both main route and alternative sections: Nice (0m, at sea level)

What shifts in altitude are involved?

• Total positive (uphill) shift in altitude going north-south on the main route: 17,104m.
• Total positive (uphill) shift in altitude going south – north on the main route: 17,511m.
• Shifts in altitude taking into account the main route and alternative sections: 32,000m.
• The section presenting the biggest shift in altitude: Barcelonnette - Valberg (+ 2,100m).
• The section presenting the smallest shift in altitude: Le Grand-Bornand - Lescheraines (+ 500m).

The top 10 hardest climbs

1. Cime de la Bonette / north slope (2802m).
2. Col de la Madeleine / south slope (1993m).
3. L'Alpe d'Huez (1860m).
4. Col du Galibier / north slope (2642m).
5. Col d'Izoard / south slope (2360m).
6. Col de l'Iseran / south slope (2764m).
7. Col de la Croix de Fer / north slope (2064m).
8. Col de Sarenne / south-east slope (1999m).
9. Col de la Cayolle / south slope (2326m).
10. Col de la Colombière / north slope (1613m).

What are the steepest gradients?

• The steepest gradient along the route, and its distance: 12% along 355m on the climb to L'Alpe d'Huez. We might also mention the ‘‘false pass’’ or faux Col de la Loze, at Méribel, in the 3 Vallées ski area, presenting cyclists with staggering gradients (up to 20%) lasting a few dozen metres. 
• The 3 hardest slopes: 
  • No. 1: 8.5%, from km 10.3 to km 18.2, on the northern climb up the Col du Galibier.
  • No. 2: 8%, from km 0 to km 14.5, on the southern climb to the Col de la Madeleine.
  • No. 3: 8%, from km 0 to km 14 on the climb to L'Alpe d'Huez.

How many geographical areas does the route cross?

• 2 countries: France and Italy (venturing into the Italian region of Piedmont on the alternative section Val-Cenis - Briançon via Oulx).
• 2 French regions: Auvergne Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur. 
• 6 départements, or French counties, namely, from north to south (with their official number in brackets): Haute-Savoie (74), Savoie (73), Isère (38; for the alternative section Val-Cenis - Briançon via Saint-Jean-d’Arves / Le Bourg d’Oisans / L’Alpe d’Huez), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes de Haute-Provence (04) and Alpes Maritimes (06).