Climbs in France: Col de la Cayolle: Tame climb in the Maritime Alps

We start in the pretty village of Barcelonnette, a place with a curious Mexican past: in the 19th century, many people from the region emigrated to Mexico and built their houses in colonial style when they returned to their homeland. After Barcelonnette, the road runs parallel to the climb up the Col d'Allos, but at the bottom of the valley and without gaining much height. Increasingly steep rock faces herald the Gorges du Bachelard, which, after a striking turn to the east, becomes so dramatic that the cyclist hardly realises that the gradient is now also increasing. But the Cayolle is a tame pass; the road rarely rises by more than seven per cent. At the end of the valley, in the hamlet of Bayasse, a few hairpin bends herald the start of the remaining ten kilometres to the top of the pass.

From the south, too, you cycle through the magnificent landscape of the Maritime Alps and the Mercantour National Park. The ascent to the pass begins in St. Martin d'Entraunes, a sleepy village where the road to the Col des Champs branches off - another beautiful pass and an insider tip! Passing a few hamlets and small churches, you reach Estenc on a steady incline. A lake on a small plateau marks the source of the Var river, which gurgles down to the south and flows into the sea near Nice. The road overcomes the impressive ascent that follows with a number of hairpin bends and several rock tunnels. At the end, the road winds its way through a barren karst landscape in which gnarled trees rise up into the sky.

North and south ramp in profile

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Pass profile: France: Col de la Cayolle