The four alpine Cols - a guide

Col de la Croix de Fer

Pass of the iron cross is its literal english translation.  This mountain has been used thirteen times by professional cyclists when participating in the Tour de France and is usually rated as a first category** climb by race organisers.  The incline is 30km (18.75 miles) long with a steepest gradient of 9% (1 in 11).

Col du Telegraphe

This mountain comes just before Col du Galibier and is approximately 11km (6.88 miles) in length.  I must not let that fool me though as the gradient is almost always between 6 and 8% (1 in 16 to 1 in 12.5).  The Col du Telegraphe has featured in the Tour de France on no less than fifty three occasions and is usually graded as a first category** climb.  Once over the top of this climb, a brief descent of 5km (3.13 miles) down into the valleys follows before the mountain listed next begins....

Col du Galibier

The Col du Galibier is rated as an hors category** mountain (beyond classification) mainly due to its brutal final 7km (4.38 miles) when the gradient kicks up to 8 or 9%, having already cycled 11km of the climb, also because it follows immediately after the Col du Telegraphe.   My legs are likely to be hurting at the time I begin this climb.  Apparently, motorists report that driving up this mountain usually requires second gear.  This Col is 18km (11.25 miles) long.

Alpe d'Huez

Last but certainly not least comes the steepest average gradient climb.  Known for its famous twenty one virages (switchbacks), which are numbered from 21 at the bottom to one at the summit, Alpe d'Huez is visited by thousands of cyclists from many countries every year. 

Alpe d'Huez is also a popular ski resort with a ski station at the summit.  France's premier cycling race has visited this venue on twenty four occasions, the most recent being in 2004 when Lance Armstrong secured a record sixth Tour title.  Again, this mountain is rated as an hors category** climb and a large proportion of this incline is at a 9% gradient.  Alpe d'Huez is 17km (10.6 miles) long.  Minimum total distance riding uphill: 47.48 miles.

Note: ** in the Tour de France, mountains are classified and awarded points based on difficaulty.  Hors category climbs are the hardest, fourth category hills are the easiest. 

Although I have no intention or indeed have the ability to race up the climbs, I have included this grading to give you an indication of how difficault they are to ride up.

                                                                 Date article submitted: 22 January 2006