D902 · France

Col du Galibier

One of the great Tour de France climbs, linking Valloire in the Maurienne with the Col du Lautaret at 2,642 m.

StartFinishHairpin

27.0 kmLength

225Pace-note calls

25Hairpins

57Tight corners (1–2)

↑1,250 ↓600Climb and drop, m

≈2,650 mHighest point

Counts are from Turini’s pace-note engine on this route. Heights come from terrain data and can differ from signposted figures by a few tens of metres.

Where is the Col du Galibier?

The Col du Galibier is in France, on the D902. Also known as Galibier. The route on this page: Valloire to the Col du Lautaret, over the 2,642 m summit, 27.0 km.

Why the Col du Galibier is famous

It is often the highest point of the Tour de France. The road crosses the summit; below it, an older single-lane tunnel controlled by traffic lights is an alternative.

Col du Galibier hairpins

Over 27.0 km Turini calls 25 hairpins, 3 square corners and 180 corners graded 1 to 6, plus 3 crests and 1 dip. That is 225 calls in all, one every 120 metres on average. Grade 1 is the tightest, 6 is nearly straight (how to read pace notes).

HP25

116

241

348

425

534

616

Col du Galibier elevation profile

From 1,409 m at the start to 2,066 m at the finish, with a highest point of about 2,650 m. Red marks are the hairpins.

2,700 m1,400 m

0 km13.5 km27.0 km

Col du Galibier pace notes, first few km

The first 25 calls, exactly as Turini reads them, with the distance from the start.

20 mLeft 1 long tightens

120 mSquare left

185 mLeft 2

210 mRight 3 tightens

325 mLeft 2

455 mDip

475 mRight 5

565 mLeft 3

645 mRoundabout, first exit

695 mRight 1

720 mBridge

750 mLeft 2

850 mBridge

1.02 kmLeft 6

1.24 kmRoundabout, second exit

1.27 kmRight 5

2.01 kmLeft 6

2.06 kmRight 3

2.19 kmLeft 3 tightens

2.29 kmRight 3

2.37 kmBridge

2.38 kmLeft 6

2.44 kmRight 5

2.49 kmLeft 6

2.55 kmRight 4

That takes you to 2.55 km. 200 more calls follow over the remaining 24.4 km.

Before you drive the Col du Galibier

Closed in winter. It usually opens in early summer and closes in autumn, depending on snow.

The north side from Valloire is 18 km long and climbs above the treeline; the south side from the Lautaret is 8.5 km, steepest at the top. Expect many cyclists in summer.

How to drive the Col du Galibier with Turini

Set the route before you leave and Turini saves its notes on the phone, so it works with the screen off and no signal. On the road it reads each call about 4.5 seconds before the corner, timed to your speed, and you never touch the phone. It also works through Android Auto. If pace notes are new to you, start in Simple mode (Easy, Medium, Hard) and switch to the 1–6 scale once it feels natural.

Always drive within the law, the conditions and what you can see. Turini tells you what the map says; the road is what counts.

More roads like the Col du Galibier

Col de l’IseranFrance29.9 km · 235 calls · 15 hairpins

Col de la BonetteFrance23.1 km · 250 calls · 27 hairpins

Col de TuriniFrance12.6 km · 153 calls · 19 hairpins

Best driving roads in the Alps · Best driving roads in Europe · Best driving roads in France · All famous roads · How to read pace notes

Sources: Wikipedia: Col du Galibier.

Set Turini up for you

Turini is in early access on Android. Five quick questions and you’ll know which mode to start with.

Find your setup →