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Col d’Izoard from Guillestre in the Hautes-Alpes
Col d’Izoard connects Briançon to the north with Guillestre in the south.
The climb proper starts once the D902 turns left towards Briançon; the 16km run up to this point from Guillestre rises only 400m vertical at an average of 2.5%. After a few kilometres in open countryside, the climb pitches up after Arvieux.
Leaving Brunissard, the hairpins begin through the pine forest, rarely dropping below 8% for the next 5km. After a few 100 metres of sharp descent, a steep section at 10% marks the beginning of the final couple of kilometres and views across the Casse Déserte before reaching the summit.
The col has been crossed by the Tour de France no fewer than 34 times and is often classed as HC.
Length: 15.9km
Height at start: 1266m
Height at finish: 2361m
Average gradient: 6.9%
Maximum gradient: 12%
