24.4
PDI
12.1 mi
DISTANCE
4,117 ft
GAINED
5.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland; Anja Kalan, Škofja Loka, Slovenija; Carl Hansen, Guernsey, UK
INTRO
Cormet de Roselend climbs 19.5 km (12.1 mi) from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, gaining 1,255 m (4,117 ft) at an average grade of 5.9% to reach the 1,968 m (6,456 ft) summit. It's the Tarentaise-side approach to one of the Alps' great connecting passes, linking Bourg-Saint-Maurice - gateway to Val d'Isère and Tignes - with the Beaufortain valley on the far side of the col.
The moderate average hides real variety: the road climbs steadily above the valley floor, works through a long series of switchbacks, and then eases through the pastoral Vallée des Chapieux before the final ramps to the pass - with the turquoise waters of the Roselend reservoir and its small lakeside chapel as the visual payoff in the closing kilometers.
Cormet de Roselend has appeared in the Tour de France 16 times since 1979, most recently at the 2025 Tour's final mountain stage, where Lenny Martinez led over the summit. It's also the scene of one of the race's stranger moments - in 1996, Johan Bruyneel missed a turn on the descent toward Bourg-Saint-Maurice and rode off the road into a ravine, emerging essentially unhurt.
The road is closed by snow through the winter, typically from mid-October into May - worth checking current status before planning a visit outside peak summer season.
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. From Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Cormet de Roselend climbs 19.5 km (12.1 mi) at an average grade of 5.9%, gaining 1,255 m (4,117 ft) to the 1,968 m (6,456 ft) summit.
The grade is moderate but uneven rather than a steady grind - early ramps above the valley floor give way to a long switchback section, then a gentler stretch through the Vallée des Chapieux before a final kick past the Roselend reservoir to the pass. There's no single brutal pitch here; the challenge is the sustained length at altitude.
Roadway: The D902 is paved the entire way and generally in good condition as one of the Route des Grandes Alpes' signature roads, though surface quality can vary a bit through the switchback sections above Bourg-Saint-Maurice - typical high-mountain patching rather than anything that should stop you.
Traffic: Traffic is light to moderate. This is a through-route connecting the Tarentaise and Beaufortain valleys and sees some car and camper traffic in summer, along with plenty of fellow cyclists, but it's far from congested outside of peak holiday weekends.
Parking: Bourg-Saint-Maurice has ample parking near its town center and train station, making it an easy, well-serviced base for the climb. There's also informal pull-off parking at several points along the D902 itself, including near the Roselend reservoir, if you'd rather start partway up.
Standard road gearing works fine here - the average grade is moderate and there's no extended double-digit pitch to worry about, though a compact crankset makes the switchback ramps more comfortable given the overall length and altitude. The road is fully paved, so no special tires are needed.
Pack layers for the summit - at nearly 2,000 m, temperatures and wind at the Cormet can be dramatically different from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, even in mid-summer. Bourg-Saint-Maurice has full services (bike shops, groceries, cafés) for a final stock-up before heading out; options thin out considerably once you're on the climb itself.
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.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a genuine cycling and travel hub, not just a start line - it's the terminus of the overnight Eurostar ski train from London and has its own SNCF station, making it one of the more accessible bases in the French Alps if you're arriving without a car. It also sits at the foot of several other major climbs, including the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard toward Italy.
Beyond the ride itself, the Roselend reservoir partway up is worth lingering at - its small lakeside chapel and turquoise water make it one of the more photographed spots on the Route des Grandes Alpes. Our Routes in the Area tool is a good way to see what else is reachable from the same base.
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carlinguernsey
This is a lovely climb with lots of variety. The gradient changes, but it is never too difficult. It has straighter parts and switch backs. It starts with good views of Bourg St. Maurice, it also has some parts in the forest, and ends with some excellent high mountain scenery.
