Col du Galibier 2642m.a.s.l. from Briançon:
1. Directions:
How to get to Briançon, where to stay, rent a bike or park the car, can be found here
2. Route description with suggestions for meal and/or water refueling stops:
We're starting the route according to the map;
- 2,2km: (1268m.a.s.l.) at the roundabout with "a bike symbol" the climb starts with a slight slope;
- 4,7km: (1332m.a.s.l.) take the first exit at the roundabout: signposted St. Chaffrey;
- 6,5km: (1358m.a.s.l.) - at the roundabout, take the D1091 again (signposted Col du Lautaret);
- 15,2km: Le Monêtier-les-Bains (1487m.a.s.l.) - restaurants and drinking water available; there is a public toilet 100m further by the church; the climb starts with a 4-5% slope;
- 28,4km: Col du Lautaret (2057m.a.s.l.) - first goal achieved; there are restaurants and drinking water available at the large parking lot (drinking water is located at the back of the parking lot); take the D902 towards Col du Galibier;

The climb profile from Briançon to Col du Lautaret can be found on: climbfinder.com and cyclingcols.com

- 36,1km: (2541m.a.s.l.) - on the left is Refuge du Galibier - you can stop for a coffee on the way back; turn right before the tunnel;
- 37km: Col du Galibier (2642m.a.s.l.) - main goal achieved;

The climb profile from Col du Lautaret (28,4km) to Col du Galibier (37km) can be found on: climbfinder.com and cyclingcols.com

Descend the same way;
- 45,7km: Col du Lautaret (2057m.a.s.l.): turn left towards Briançon and descend the same way to the starting point;

- The entire climb from Col du Lautaret to Col du Galibier is presented on Indoor Cycling Training on the Bike the World YouTube channel and the last kilometers of the climb (Tour de France 2011 - Stage 18) can be found on the nicolas bothuan YouTube channel;

Statistics about Col du Galibier can be found on procyclingstats.com and about Col du Lautaret on procyclingstats.com

   Download the route in: gpx

Statistics of the ascent to Col du Lautaret:
- start at an altitude of 1268m.a.s.l. (2,2km) finish at 2057m.a.s.l. (28,4km)
- total elevation difference: 797m
- distance: 26,2km
- average gradient: 3%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 7,4%

Col du Lautaret in Google Street View:

Statistics of the ascent from Col du Lautaret to Col du Galibier:
- start at an altitude of 2057m.a.s.l. (28,4km) finish at 2642m.a.s.l. (37km)
- total elevation difference: 585m
- distance: 8,6km
- average gradient: 6,8%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 13,4%

Col du Galibier in Google Street View: