- Ascent
- 1364 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 20.7 km
- max. gradient
- 10 %
- ø gradient
- 6.6 %
The Col d'Agnel from Ville-Vieille is an HC climb of 20.7 km with 1,364 m of elevation gain at an average of 6.6 %, peaking at 10 %. The road climbs through the Queyras via Molines to the Italian border at 2,744 m and drops on the far side into the Varaita valley to Sampeyre. The final kilometres are the steepest.
The Col d’Agnel climbs from the Queyras to the Italian border at 2,744 metres. From Ville-Vieille it is 20.7 kilometres and 1,364 metres of climbing. In the Western Alps of our list only the Col de l’Iséran finishes higher. The climb saves its hardest part for the top, where the air is already thin.
The Col d’Agnel at a glance
The key figures from Ville-Vieille: category HC, 20.7 km, 1,364 m of climbing, 6.6 % on average and 10 % at its steepest. The road climbs through the Queyras via Molines to the pass at 2,744 m on the border. On the Italian side it drops into the Varaita valley to Sampeyre. In our list the Col d’Agnel belongs to the Western Alps region.
The climb from Ville-Vieille
The first eight kilometres average around 6.5 % and are already solid work, with one early kilometre above 9 %. Then comes a calmer section: for about five kilometres the gradient mostly stays below 5 %. This is the best place on the whole climb to eat, drink and recover. Use it, because the rest goes uphill in every sense.
From about seven kilometres below the pass the gradient rises steadily, from just under 7 to over 9 %. The second to last kilometre is the steepest of the whole climb. Only the very last kilometre eases off again to under 5 %. So the hardest part comes at the greatest altitude, which makes it feel even harder.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
At 2,744 m the Col d’Agnel has one of the highest finishing points in the list, only six climbs end higher. In the Western Alps the only one is the Col de l’Iséran at 2,764 m. With 1,364 m of climbing and 20.7 km it sits in the upper third, 31 climbs have more elevation gain and 31 are longer. On gradient, though, it is only in the middle: 59 climbs are steeper on average than its 6.6 %.
Practical tips
On the Col d’Agnel the pacing should be planned around the final section, as the steepest kilometres come right at the end. A compact gearing is enough for the 10 % peak. At 2,744 m it can be cold and windy even in summer, so warm layers for the top are a must. On the Italian side you roll down into the Varaita valley to Sampeyre, the way back to Ville-Vieille is the same road.
