Col de l’Iseran – The Highest Pass in Europe
By Will • Jul 16th, 2010 • Category: Climbs, Cycling
Col de l’Iseran is one of my very favourite climbs. A perfect Bastille day, with three French friends, cycling up the more remote (and more interesting) South side.
It’s the highest road bike-able pass in Europe (yes, there are a couple of roads slightly higher, like the incredible Cime de la Bonette, but they are not passes).
It’s not the hardest climb (although it’s not easy) – the start over 30+ kilometres away in Lanslebourg is already at 1,400 metres.
Near the beginning is a short, steep stretch to Col de la Madeleine at 1,746 metres (this of course is not the famous Madeleine) . Then route is flat for several kms until Bonneval-sur-Arc, and then the fun begins.
After Bonneval, apart from the occasional ruin, there is nothing but mountains, rivers, cascades, and beautiful views – and the constant screeching of a Marmotte or two.
Photo by Philippe:
The hardest part of the climb is definitely the last two kilometres. Steep, high and beautiful.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2013 Challenge is to cycle a 150 Cols (mountain passes), slowly -- and to just enjoy.
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Aren’t there higher passes along the Russian/Georgian border in the Caucasus? Pereval Tviber, for instance.
[...] will be familiar to Col hunters: Galibier, Gavia, Tourmalet, Alpe d’Huez, Stelvio, Madeleine, Iseran, Mortirolo, Glandon, GrossGlockner, Zoncolan, Angliru, [...]
[...] Similarly, I climbed the south side from Bonneval-sur-arc which is where the road turns up – for details of a longer version of this side starting from Lanslebourg see here. [...]
[...] route starts from Termignon – not too far from Lanslebourg and the start of the south side of Col de l’Iseran. From the Termignon tourist office, follow the main road up and west and at the very first hairpin [...]