19.8
PDI
15 mi
DISTANCE
3,926 ft
GAINED
4.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland
INTRO
The Montagne de Lure climb from Valbelle is a long, patient ride of 24.2 km (15.0 mi), gaining 1,197 m (3,926 ft) at a 4.9% average grade. It runs from the village at 505 m (1,658 ft) in the Jabron valley to 1,687 m (5,534 ft) on the ridge past the Pas de la Graille, still below the Signal de Lure at 1,826 m (5,991 ft). It follows the same mountain as our Signal de Lure (Les Tournières) page, but starts from the village itself.
The profile is unusual: the first 10 km (6.2 mi) are mostly a low-grade approach, with fields of grain and lavender around Valbelle, a long traverse across the hillside, and one steeper pitch of about 2 km (1.2 mi) at 8% through thin forest just after the village. The real climbing begins around the first hairpin at about 1,020 m (3,346 ft), followed by a steady 5% grind and a handful more hairpins as the forest thickens, with the last few kilometers alternating between 5% and 9% before the Pas de la Graille (1,597 m / 5,240 ft).
Traffic is very light and the road feels remote. Above the Pas de la Graille the trees give way to rock and grassland, the grade eases to 3-5%, and on a clear day, especially after the mistral, Mont Ventoux stands out to the west.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The climb averages 4.9% over 24.2 km (15.0 mi), but that average hides a very uneven profile. The first 10 km (6.2 mi) rise gently, with a couple of kilometers that are nearly flat, so the serious work comes later. The steepest 91 m (100 yd) reaches 9.3%, the steepest 0.5 km (0.3 mi) averages 8.4%, and the steepest 1 km (0.6 mi) averages 7.4%.
Over the hardest 5 km (3.1 mi) the grade averages 6.6%, and over the hardest 10 km (6.2 mi) it averages 6.1%. There are no brutal ramps, but there is also little relief, so riders who go out too fast on the early kilometers often pay for it on the long upper section.
Roadway: The road is paved the whole way, but the surface is rough and uneven, particularly after Valbelle and over the last few kilometers. Fresh chippings were laid in 2025 and left parts of the road loose for a time; by late summer 2026, riders reported that they had settled firmly. Check recent reports before you go, and take the descent slowly, since it is bumpy. The practical season is roughly May to September, and a sign at the D946 junction shows whether the pass is open.
Traffic: Very light. You can ride for long stretches without seeing a car, and the forest keeps the upper climb cool and quiet. Expect more walkers and the occasional vehicle near the Pas de la Graille, which is a trailhead.
Parking: Valbelle is a village of about 265 people, so park courteously near the village and keep driveways and field gates clear. A parking area near the Jas de Bailles at about 900 m (2,953 ft), roughly 10 km (6.2 mi) into the climb, is useful if you want to shorten the ride or have a support vehicle meet you.
Provisions: Fill your bottles before you start; an open tap on a wall in Valbelle is a reliable refill point. There are no services along the climb, and it takes most riders well over two hours, so carry food.
Gear: A compact crankset with a 28 to 32 tooth cassette suits the irregular grade. Wider tires, 28 mm or more, make the rough surface easier on the way up and down. The ridge is open and windy even when the valley is calm, so pack a windproof layer.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Valbelle is a small farming village in a cirque-shaped valley on the north side of the Lure, with only a handful of farms left and a few old stone houses being restored. The village took its name from Léon de Valbelle, a Provençal noble who bought the local lordship in 1620, and the ruins of the older village stand on a nearby hill. Near Valbelle, the Grottes des Peyrourets yielded Neolithic flint, and the Grotte Saint-Robert has Bronze Age finds.
The Lure is a UNESCO biosphere reserve with unusually rich wildlife: golden eagles, chamois and red deer live on the mountain, and the scree below the ridge holds an endemic columbine and rare Spanish juniper. The GR 6 hiking trail runs through the valley and over the ridge, so a walk from the Pas de la Graille makes a good rest-day outing. Other Lure climbs start from different valleys, and you can see other climbs nearby, or build a custom route from here, with our Routes in the Area tool.
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