![Climbing Col de L’Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc by bike; narrow road and cliff]( "Col de L’Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc")
Col de L'Iseran - one of the most spectacular cycling climbs in the world.
![Cycling Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: photo collage shows bike parked next to street sign for Col de L'Iseran; green hillsides and stone fences; old stone church]()
Col d’L’Iseran is the highest paved pass in Europe and has been included eight times in the Tour de France as of 2023.
Is Col de L'Iseran truly the highest paved pass in Europe?
Yes. While Pico de Veleta, Spain, is the higher “road” at 3,357 m / 11,013’, it ends in a dead end so is not a pass. Even though Cima de la Bonette (2,685 m / 3,809’) is technically a pass, it is just a through road to the peak and not the functional “pass.” Thus, Col de L'Iseran, with its functional col/pass at 2,633 m / 8,638’ can truly claim “highest paved pass in Europe.”
START OF THE CLIMB
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: climb start in Bonnev al-Sur-Arc; stone buildings in town, yellow and white kilometer marker]()
Start of climb at Bonneval-Sur-Arc.
The climb begins in the very quaint village of Bonneval-Sur-Arc, an alpine commune in the Savoie department (population 263).
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: view of shops and buildings in Bonneval-sur-Arc, cobblestone roads, bright flowers]()
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: beautiful old stone cathedral in town, Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Bonneval-sur-Arc]()
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Bonneval-sur-Arc
Consecrated in 1661.
SEGMENT ONE
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: photo collage shows vies along first segment of climb; green mountain landscapes, yellow and white kilometer markers]()
The first segment of the climb is four kilometers, beginning on a giant switchback that bends into a lovely meadow at kilometer four.
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: green hillsides with yellow wildflowers, stone markers nestled into grass]()
SEGMENT TWO
![Cycling Col de L’Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc - meadow, farm houses, cut of road in mountain]( "Col de L’Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc")
Roadway is seen middle-left of picture.
Segment two is about four kilometers at 8.3% and begins at the hairpin at kilometer 4.7 at the end of the meadow. From there, we climb up through three hairpins with spectacular views of the meadow below and along a sheer cliff to our left.
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: photo collage shows gorgeous alpine views, green mountainsides with pink wildflowers]()
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: stone bridge at kilometer 5.7]()
Bridge at kilometer 5.7.
SEGMENT THREE
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: photo collage shows stone bridge, stone markers, and snow-dotted mountainsides]()
The final segment begins after the short tunnel at kilometer 9.1 and is the final four kilometers at 7.1% to the finish.
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: yellow and white Tour de France kilometer marker at the climb's finish]()
KM markers lead us up the mountain -- above is the last marker.
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: roadway decorated with writing and painting at the last 50 meters of the climb]()
Final 50 meters to the finish.
Col de L'Iseran is part of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a tourist itinerary that begins in Thonon-les-Bains and travels over many of the most spectacular passes in France and Europe, including Col de L'Iseran, Galibier, d’Izoard, and Bonette; alternate route includes Croix de Fer and Madeleine.
![Cycling Cime Bonette from Jausiers, France - Route des Grands Alpes map]( "Cycling Cime Bonette from Jausiers, France")
Route des Grandes Alpes.
THE TOP - COL DE L’ISERAN
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: photo collage shows street signs for Col de L'Iseran; climb finish]()
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: photo collage shows informational signs and plaques at climb finish]()
Col de L'Iseran is #30 in Hugh Merrick’s book The Great Motor Highways of the Alps, in which he writes that “the impression that emerges, rather like the stunning vistas of the Chalanson and Albaron glaciers as one nears the summit from the southern side, is of a feat of road building that was also in part a vanity project.”
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: aerial drone view of the top of Col de L'Iseran; snow-dotted mountain peak]()
Aerial view of Col de L'Iseran
Approach from Bonneval-sur-Arc to right and from Val-d’Isere left.
CHAPEL NOTRE-DAME DE TOUTE PRUDENCE
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: aerial drone view shows Chapel Notre-Dame de Toute Prudence nestled in peak of mountain, surrounded by patches of snow]()
Chapel Notre-Dame de Toute Prudence is located at the Col de L’Iseran.
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: views of Chapel Notre-Dame de Toute Prudence]()
Construction of the chapel was completed in 1939 using local stone. The sculpture of the Virgin Mary was created by sculptor Edgar Delvaux.
![Col de L'Iseran from Bonneval-sur-Arc: black and white views of Chapel Notre-Dame de Toute Prudence]()
TOUR DE FRANCE HISTORY
TOP 10 MOST FREQUENT CLIMBS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE
AND 10 FAMOUS ONES AFTER THAT
As of 2023 Col de L’Iseran has been featured eight times in the TdF.
Each time it has been featured, it has also been the highest point in that year’s TdF.
© PJAMMCycing.com
© Climb name | Elevation (meters) | Times highest point of TdF (as of 2022) | Mountain Range | Times Featured in Tour de France | Most recent | First included |
Cime de la Bonette | 2,802m | 4 | Alps | 4 | 2008 | 1962 |
Col de l'Iseran | 2,770m | 8 | Alps | 8 | 2019 | 1938 |
Col Agnel | 2,744m | 1 | Alps | 2 | 2011 | 2008 |
Col du Galibier | 2,642m | 50 | Alps | 63 | 2022 | 1911 |
Col du Granon | 2,413m | 0 | Alps | 2 | 2022 | 1986 |
Col de L’lseran has been the highest point in the TdF eight times.
Also see Top 10 Highest Points of the TdF.
Col de L'Iseran has only been included in the Tour de France eight times in the 85 years between 1938 and 2023. The Tour takes what is otherwise a somewhat eerie and desolate -- although quite scenic -- place, and turns it into a tourist attraction with a carnival atmosphere. First included in the Tour in 1938, Gino Bartali exclaimed that he won the race on his descent of Col de Vars, but saved it on the descent off the L'Iseran.
![Gino Partali, Tour de France 1938]( "Col de l’Iseran")
Gino Bartali, winner 1938 Tour de France
Bartali crossed L'Iseran in Stage 14
Down 00:01:05 at the beginning of the stage, after a heroic descent of L'Iseran he finished up 00:05:18.
Photo: LearningHistory.com
Bartali (along with Federico Bahamontes) has more Grand Tour wins (9) than anyone in history and the TdF (1938, 1948), Giro (1936, 1937, 1946; mountain classification a record seven times, three more than anyone in history, Giro wasn’t held five years from 1941-1945), Milan-San Remo (4) and Giro di Lombardia (3).
It was on Col de L'Iseran that legendary cyclist Louison Bobet’s career ended. Bobet retired at the summit of L'Iseran on July 14, 1959, having been victorious in the TdF three years running from 1953-55. Bobet was the first rider to win the Tour de France in three consecutive years.
![Louison Bobet, 1959 Tour de France]( "Col de l’Iseran")
Louison Bobet on Col de L'Iseran 1959 Tour de France
Bobet retired on L'Iseran July 14, 1959 after three TdF victories.
Photo: Walter Vermeulen flicker
July 9, 1963 is notable more for the brutal conditions on the L'Iseran than for the race stage itself (won by undisputed King of the Mountains Fernando Manzaneque -- winner mountain classification TdF six times, Giro d’Italia once, and Vuelta de Espana twice). Due to impassable snow pack at the top of Col de L'Iseran, the tour came within a whisker of a tedious and long reroute around Albertville and Bourg Saint Maurice of the 202 km stage from Grenoble to the scheduled finish in Val d'Isère. However, the tour organizers, having more consideration for their business and schedule than the riders’ safety, maintained the original route which led the tour over the high pass along icy roads and a snow tunnel.
![1963 Tour de France]( "Col de l’Iseran")
Col de L'Iseran -- Stage 16, Tour de France July 9, 1963.
Photo: innrng.com
![Tour de France cyclists ride through tunnel in 1963]( "Col de l’Iseran")
Near the summit of L'Iseran TdF 1963
Photo: innrng.com
Likely the most famous of the eight crossings of the L'Iseran during the Tour de France involved the amazing solo 100 kilometer breakaway by Italy’s Claudio Chiapucci, a true Mountain King. Chiapucci has legendary mountain classification credentials -- one of only four men to win the TdF and Giro mountain classification in the same year (putting him in the enviable company of Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul and Lucien Van Impe), and tied with Gino Bartali with the most Giro mountain classification wins (7). With 100 kilometers to go on July 18, 1992’s TdF Stage 13, Chiapucci did one of his signature (though sometimes ill-advised) breakaways. However, on this day the peloton mistakenly ignored Chiapucci who burned over seven cols, including the highest of them all, L'Iseran, on his way to a 00:01:34 stage win. Chiapuccu was second in that year’s Tour to Miguel Induran who won his second of an unbelievable five straight Tours de France.
![Claudio Chiapucci (KOM jersey) and Miguel Indurain (leader’s jersey)]( "Col de l’Iseran")
Claudio Chiapucci (KOM jersey) and Miguel Indurain (leader’s jersey). Indurain is the 1991 & 1992 TdF
mountain classification winner.
Photo: cyclingweekly.com
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