15.9
PDI
6.9 mi
DISTANCE
2,448 ft
GAINED
6.6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Everyone knows the Finestre for its gravel - the long dirt road on the Susa side where Chris Froome launched his 2018 Giro-winning attack. This is the other way up. From Pourrières in the Val Chisone the road is asphalt to the col, and shorter and kinder: 11 km (6.8 mi) with 746 m (2448 ft) of gain at 6.6%, much of it through open mountain pasture where sheep wander onto the road.
The first 6 km climb steadily at 6-8%, past the houses of Balboutet with their painted sundials, up to the Pian dell'Alpe, a broad alpine shelf at about 1890 m where the Strada dell'Assietta branches off. The next kilometer and a half are flat. Then the road turns uphill for the hardest part of the day: the last 3 km hold almost exactly 9% all the way to the col.
It's the natural partner to the Susa side. Ride up the gravel from Susa, drop down this side and come back up, or use this road to reach Pian dell'Alpe and the start of the Assietta, the old military road that runs along the ridge above 2000 m toward Sestriere. The Giro d'Italia has crossed the col regularly since 2005, descending into the Val Chisone on the way to Sestriere when Simon Yates won the 2025 race here, and the Giro d'Italia Women went over it for the first time in 2026.
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. Colle delle Finestre from Pourrières climbs 11 km (6.8 mi) from 1423 m (4668 ft) to the col, gaining 746 m (2448 ft) at an average of 6.6%, including about 16 m (53 ft) of descending.
The first 6 km run 6.6%, 7.9%, 8%, 7%, 5.7% and 8.3% up to the Pian dell'Alpe. Between km 6.5 and km 8 the road crosses the plateau with no real climbing, even dipping slightly. The final 3 km are the steepest and very even: 8.8%, 8.9% and 8.9% to the col.
Steepest sections: 91 m (100 yd) at 11.3%, 0.5 km at 9.4%, 1 km at 9.2%, 2 km at 9%, 5 km at 7.4%, 10 km at 6.7%.
Roadway: Asphalt to the top on this side - no gravel - but it's a narrow mountain road, about one car wide with passing places, and riders report an uneven surface in places, so take the descent steadily. It's a seasonal road: snow closes the upper road from about November, and the Finestre usually reopens in late May or June once both sides have been cleared and checked.
Traffic: Light. Expect a few cars and motorbikes heading for Pian dell'Alpe and the Assietta road, more on summer weekends. If you're carrying on along the Assietta, its ridge section between Pian dell'Alpe and Col Basset is closed to motor vehicles from 9:00 to 17:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays in July and August.
Parking: Start from Pourrières, where the climb leaves the valley road. Fenestrelle, about 5 km down the valley, and Pragelato, upstream, both have more parking and services and make easy warm-up rides to the start.
Gear: This side never holds much more than 9% for long, so ordinary climbing gears are fine - a 34x28 or 34x30 is plenty. The col is well above 2000 m, so even on a hot day in the valley, bring a jacket and gloves for the descent.
Provisions: Fill bottles in Fenestrelle or Pragelato before you start. Riders mention a couple of places for food and drink along the way, but they're seasonal - don't rely on them outside high summer.
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.
Usseaux is worth a stop before or after: a small Val Chisone village with murals that tell its history, a restored 18th-century mill, wash-house and bread oven, and Balboutet's sundials right on the climb. Down the valley, the Forte di Fenestrelle is the big sight - a vast fortress whose walls and covered stairway climb the mountainside above the town, some 4000 steps in all. Fenestrelle is also the start of our Sestrières climb.
For the Susa side, see our Colle delle Finestre page. The classic day is up the gravel from Susa, down this side and back up - about 28 km and 1690 m of climbing. If you've got a gravel bike, the Assietta road from Pian dell'Alpe is open roughly July to October, snow permitting.
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