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The Col du Galibier
is often the highest point of the Tour de France, with
its 2.645 metres.
It is located between the Massif d'Arvan-Villards and
the Massif des Cerces, taking its name from the
secondary chain of mountains known as the Galibier. You
start from the north in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, and
climb 34,9 kilometres which includes the
Col du Télégraphe.
The col gains 2.096 metres in height, which means an
average of 5,5 percent.
The Col du Galibier was first used in the Tour de France
in 1911 and the first rider over the summit was Emile
Georget, who, with Paul Duboc and Gustave Garrigou were
the only riders not to walk. In the meantime the road
has improved a lot.
A few kilometres in the downhill of the Col du Galibier
you pass the monument to
Henri Desgrange, instigator and first director of
the Tour de France. The memorial was inaugurated when
the tour passed on 19 July 1949. Whenever the tour
crosses the Col du Galibier, a wreath is laid on the
memorial. You may leave here your own souvenir : a water
bottle, a spare tube or something else. |
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