- Ascent
- 1105 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 20 km
- max. gradient
- 10 %
- ø gradient
- 5.5 %
The Col d'Allos from Barcelonnette is an HC climb of 20 km with 1,105 m of elevation gain at an average of 5.5 %, peaking at 10 %. The road climbs out of the Ubaye valley to 2,247 m and drops on the far side towards Colmars. After three almost flat kilometres the gradient mostly stays between 5 and 8 %.
The Col d’Allos climbs from the Ubaye valley towards the upper Verdon. From Barcelonnette it is 20 kilometres and 1,105 metres of climbing up to 2,247 metres. It shares its starting point with the Col de la Cayolle, but is clearly the steeper of the two. After a flat start the gradient comes in waves, never very steep but rarely easy.
The Col d’Allos at a glance
The key figures from Barcelonnette: category HC, 20 km, 1,105 m of climbing, 5.5 % on average and 10 % at its steepest. The road leaves Barcelonnette and climbs out of the Ubaye valley to the pass at 2,247 m. On the far side it runs down towards Colmars. In our list the Allos belongs to the Maritime Alps region.
The climb from Barcelonnette
The first three kilometres are almost flat and serve as a warm up. Then the climb begins properly: up to about kilometre eight the gradient sits between 5.5 and just under 8 %. Two calmer kilometres follow at around 3 to 4.5 %. After that it picks up again with values between 6.5 and 8 %.
About five kilometres before the top there is one more easy kilometre, then the last block begins. It holds the steepest kilometre of the whole climb, close to 9 %, and stays at 6 to 7 % afterwards. The very last kilometre is a little calmer at around 5 %. So the Allos alternates between work and short breathers all the way up.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
In the Maritime Alps of our list the Allos ranks third out of five for finishing height, elevation gain and length. Across all 100 climbs only 24 finish higher than 2,247 m. With 1,105 m of climbing and a 5.5 % average it sits in the middle to lower field, 82 climbs are steeper on average. The Col de la Cayolle also starts in Barcelonnette, but is gentler and longer with 29.4 km at 4.1 %.
Practical tips
The Allos needs no special gearing, a compact chainset is plenty for the 10 % peak. Use the flat first kilometres and the two easier sections to eat and drink. At 2,247 m it is noticeably colder than in Barcelonnette, so bring a jacket for the descent. Heading south you drop towards Colmars, the way back to Barcelonnette is the same road.
