26.5
PDI
9.7 mi
DISTANCE
3,929 ft
GAINED
7.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Le Collet d'Allevard climbs 15.7 km (9.7 mi) out of Allevard-les-Bains, in the Belledonne massif of France's Isère department, gaining 1,198 m (3,929 ft) at a 7.5% average grade. The route runs through the Collet d'Allevard ski village at 1,450 m before continuing to a higher finish around 1,650 m at Super Collet, the upper viewpoint above the resort.
The climb never lets up much - Le Cycle magazine has compared it to a miniature Alpe d'Huez for how steep the opening kilometers are right out of Allevard-les-Bains, and the grade stays hard and sustained the rest of the way with little real recovery. Despite that, Le Collet d'Allevard has never featured in the Tour de France, largely because of its out-of-the-way location in the Belledonne range - a range that sees far less race and tourist traffic than the Tarentaise or Maurienne valleys to the south.
Allevard-les-Bains itself, at the base, has been a thermal spa town since 1849, built around some of the most sulphurous mineral springs in the world - still in operation today for rheumatism and respiratory treatments. The town's lake and rooftops make for a nice look back down the valley from the lower switchbacks.
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. Le Collet d'Allevard gains 1,198 m (3,929 ft) over 15.7 km (9.7 mi) at a 7.5% average grade. The climb is steep from the very first kilometers out of Allevard-les-Bains and stays that way, with the steepest mile averaging 10.3% and the steepest kilometer 10.6% - there's little flat or downhill respite anywhere on the route.
Roadway: The road is paved the entire way and is in good condition. As a year-round ski-resort access road, it's maintained and plowed through winter for Collet d'Allevard's ski traffic, and typically clear and rideable the rest of the year.
Traffic: Traffic is light outside of winter, when it's a working ski-access road rather than a through-route. In summer it mainly sees local and recreational traffic headed up to the resort's hiking and mountain-biking trails.
Parking: Allevard-les-Bains, the spa town at the base, has parking near its town center and thermal baths at the start of the climb, at the crossroads of Avenue de Savoie and the Route du Collet.
The steep, sustained grade from the first kilometer makes this a climb best suited to a compact crank and an easy low gear held in reserve - there's no gentle warm-up section to ease into. Top off water in Allevard-les-Bains before starting, since the route climbs directly into forest and pasture with no services until the resort village 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.
Allevard-les-Bains has been a thermal spa town since 1849, drawing visitors for its unusually sulphurous mineral springs, still used today for rheumatism, fibromyalgia, and respiratory treatments at the town's baths. It's a smaller, quieter base than the well-known spa towns of Savoie further south, with its own small lake near the town center.
The Belledonne massif above town holds a dense cluster of lesser-known climbs beyond this one - Dôme des Oudis, Montouvrard, and Station du Barioz all start from the same general area - making Allevard a good base for stringing together a few days of riding away from the busier Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys; our Routes in the Area tool is a good way to see what else is nearby.
ROUTE MAP
MEMBER RATING
CURRENT WEATHER
PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES
Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY
FROM No Climbs Found
MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS
Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
LOG IN HERE
