22.5
PDI
9.4 mi
DISTANCE
3,538 ft
GAINED
7.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Prapoutel climbs 15.2 km (9.4 mi) out of Le Champ-près-Froges, in the Belledonne massif northeast of Grenoble, gaining 1,078 m (3,538 ft) at a 7.1% average grade to the Prapoutel ski station at around 1,317 m (4,321 ft).
Prapoutel is the larger and more developed of the two Sept Laux ("Seven Lakes") ski stations reached from this road - its neighbor Pipay, over Col des Ayes, has a smaller, quieter base station, while Prapoutel carries most of the area's lift and lodging infrastructure. The route passes through the village of Les Adrets, where the steepest ramps of the climb sit, then eases through Col des Ayes with views opening over the Grésivaudan valley to the Chartreuse massif beyond, before finishing among the resort's lifts and parking areas.
The valley floor below has an outsized place in French industrial history: Froges was the site of the country's first electrolytic aluminum plant, built in 1887 by chemist Paul Héroult, whose company eventually grew into Pechiney, once France's dominant aluminum producer. It's an unexpected footnote for a quiet road that spends most of its length climbing through Belledonne forest toward a ski station.
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. Prapoutel averages 7.1% over 15.2 km (9.4 mi), with the steepest 100 m pitch reaching into the 11-14% range on the ramps through Les Adrets in the opening kilometers.
The climb settles into a steadier rhythm after Les Adrets, including a short descent and flat stretch around Col des Ayes that offers genuine recovery before the final push into Prapoutel. That irregular profile - hard, then a breather, then hard again - makes this a climb that rewards pacing more than raw watts.
Roadway: A well-maintained, broad two-lane road for essentially its entire length - this is the main access road to a ski resort, so it's kept in good condition and plowed/repaved as needed. No unpaved sections.
Traffic: Light to moderate. Local and resort traffic through Les Adrets and up to Col des Ayes, where some of it splits off toward Pipay; the final stretch into Prapoutel itself sees mostly resort-bound cars rather than through traffic. Weekends in ski season or peak summer bring more visitors, but this isn't a heavily trafficked road by regional standards.
Parking: Park in Le Champ-près-Froges at the base, or continue all the way up to the large lots at the Prapoutel station itself, which serve both the lifts and summer hiking trailheads onto the Sept Laux plateau.
A standard road bike handles this climb without issue - the surface is good throughout and there's nothing technical about it. Compact gearing is worth having for the steeper ramps through Les Adrets early on.
Prapoutel station has restaurants, cafes, and a small shop open through the summer season; Le Champ-près-Froges at the base has more limited options, so plan to restock at the top or bring what you need from Froges or Grenoble beforehand.
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.
Grenoble, about 35-40 minutes away, is the practical base for this climb, with full hotel, restaurant, and bike shop services; Froges and Le Champ-près-Froges at the base are small valley towns with limited tourist infrastructure of their own.
This is one of the densest clusters of climbs in the Belledonne massif - Pipay, Col des Mouilles, Station du Barioz, Col du Coq, and Freydières all start within a 15-minute drive, each climbing into a different valley or ski station. If you're building a multi-day trip around Belledonne rather than just this one climb, our Routes in the Area tool is a good way to see how they connect.
If you'd rather extend the ride than drive to a second climb, Pipay's smaller, quieter station is reachable by continuing past Col des Ayes rather than turning into Prapoutel - a worthwhile out-and-back if you have the legs left.
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