Col du Lautaret


Col du Lautaret is a high mountain pass in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.
It marks the boundary between the valleys of the Romanche and the Guisane, a tributary of the Durance which has its source at the col. The valleys are linked by national route 91. The Lautaret is one of the lowest points on the ridge line which separates the "north" and "south" geographic areas of the French Alps.
The Col has long been used as a communication route between Grenoble and Briançon, and indeed for reaching Italy across the Alps.
The Col is open all year round and provides good views of La Meije to the south-west and the Grand Galibier to the north. It is also well known for its botanical garden. The route to the south side of the Col du Galibier leaves from the Lautaret.

Cycle racing

Details of the climbs

From the west, the climb starts at Les Clapier, near Le Bourg-d'Oisans, from where the climb is long, gaining in altitude, at an average gradient of 3.8%, with the steepest section being at 7.5% in the first kilometre.
The eastern approach commences at Briançon, from where there is to the summit, gaining in altitude, at an average gradient of 3.1%, with a maximum of 5.2%.

Tour de France

The Tour de France first crossed over the Col du Lautaret in 1911, when the leader over the summit was Émile Georget. Since 1947, the Lautaret pass has been crossed over 40 times by the Tour de France, although most of these have not been classified for the "King of the Mountains" competition, usually when the pass is crossed on the descent from the Col du Galibier.

Appearances in Tour de France

Since 1947, the passages which have been categorized have been:
YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit
2014141GrenobleRisoul
2006152GapAlpe-d'Huez
200391Le Bourg-d'OisansGap
197214a3BriançonValloire
1965173BriançonAix-les-Bains
1962193BriançonAix-les-Bains
1960173BriançonAix-les-Bains
1958213BriançonAix-les-Bains
1953192BriançonLyon
1951213BriançonAix-les-Bains
1950192BriançonSaint-Étienne