The Col d'Agnel or Colle dell'Agnello, as the pass is called in Italy, is the third highest Alpine pass after the Col d'Iséran and the Stelvio Pass. Originally built as a military track during the border war from 1914 to 1918, the pass between the French Queyras and the Italian Valle Varaita is of little significance for transit traffic today. This is good news for racing cyclists, because even in the high season, things are comparatively quiet here. The only downside: the pass can hardly be meaningfully incorporated into a round trip. The Col d'Agnel only makes the headlines when it appears in the profile of the Giro d'Italia, as it is not uncommon for the onset of winter to make life difficult for the racers. The lonely landscape on the Agnel is one of the most beautiful that the Alps have to offer. Tip for the western ramp: Even if the main climb only begins in Ville Vieille, you should start in Guillestre. Over the first few kilometres, the River Guil has carved an impressive gorge into the rock - the Combe du Queyras. The 21 kilometres to Ville Vieille add up to 650 metres in altitude. On the eastern ramp from Sampeyre, you also gain altitude gradually at first. At kilometre 15, the flat section along the reservoir at Pontechianale offers a final opportunity to take a deep breath before the ramps with gradients of up to 13 per cent begin.
All information about the Col du Galibier can be found in the PDF download.
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