17.5
PDI
6.1 mi
DISTANCE
2,552 ft
GAINED
7.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
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. Notre-Dame-du-Pré averages 7.9% over 9.8 km (6.1 mi), and the profile is remarkably consistent.
Km 0-2: A 6.7% opening kilometer leads straight into the hardest kilometer of the climb at 10.5%.
Km 2-9: The heart of the climb, at 7.1-8.8% every kilometer. Kilometer 3 is the steepest of this stretch at 8.8%, and kilometers 6, 7 and 8 all sit at 8.1-8.2%.
Km 9-9.8: The grade finally eases to about 4.2% as you roll into the village.
The steepest kilometer averages 10.3%, the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) average 8.6%, and the steepest 400 m reach about 12.3%.
Roadway: Paved the entire way. The D88 is a well-maintained two-way mountain road, and this side, which had damaged asphalt in places, has since been resurfaced. Watch for loose gravel at small repair sites, especially on the hairpins coming down. We found no closures or roadworks reported on the route in 2026. Notre-Dame-du-Pré is a small ski village, so expect snow and ice on the upper half of the road from late autumn into spring.
Traffic: Light. The D88 is a local road serving Notre-Dame-du-Pré and the small hamlets on the Col du Tra, and riders describe it as quiet even in midsummer. The contrast with the valley floor could not be bigger: the N90 between Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a busy expressway, so approach the start on the old valley road rather than the N90.
Parking: There is no lot at the D88 turnoff at Les Plaines, which is little more than a junction on the valley floor. The most practical approach is to start in Moûtiers, a few kilometers down the valley, and ride the old road to the base - see our Route de Montfort page for arriving by train. If you would rather drive up and ride only the extensions above the village, Notre-Dame-du-Pré has visitor parking by its small ski area.
Provisions: Fill bottles and pick up food in Moûtiers before you start - there is nothing on the climb itself. Notre-Dame-du-Pré has a restaurant and picnic area, but in a village this small, hours outside the summer and ski seasons can be limited.
Gear: The steady 8% grade with no rest rewards compact gearing and a cassette with a 30 tooth or larger cog. Grades like this get hot in midsummer, so start early in July and August. At the same time, the village sits more than 750 m (2461 ft) above the valley, so pack a light layer for the descent in spring and autumn.
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.
The village church is the one to stop for. A 12th-century chapel to Mary was replaced in the 17th century, and in 1647 the interior was redecorated in full Baroque style - look for the brightly colored altarpiece, the slim gilded columns of the tabernacle, and a figure of Saint Barbara holding her tower. It is open every day from 9 to 6, free of charge, and the Maison de la Randonnée en Vanoise runs guided Baroque-heritage walks in the area.
Just before the village, a mountain road branches off and carries on uphill into the fir forest, passing the Glaisy campsite and its climbing rock after about 3 km (1.9 mi). That road is a worthwhile extension for strong legs: it keeps climbing to the Bois des Allemands at about 1835 m (6020 ft), where the pavement ends abruptly in the trees within sight of the Mont Jovet ridge. Alternatively, stay on the D88 over the Col du Tra and drop to Longefoy and the foot of La Plagne - our Côte de Longefoy to Notre-Dame-du-Pré page covers that side in the other direction.
Route de Montfort and Montée d'Hautecour start within a few kilometers of here and make a good pairing for a short, steep Tarentaise day. To see other climbs nearby, or build a custom route from here, try our Routes in the Area tool.
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