- Ascent
- 1198 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 29.4 km
- max. gradient
- 10 %
- ø gradient
- 4.1 %
The Col de la Cayolle from Barcelonnette is an HC climb of 29.4 km with 1,198 m of elevation gain at an average of 4.1 %, peaking at 10 %. The road climbs through the Bachelard gorge to 2,326 m and drops on the south side into the Var valley to Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes. For about 24 kilometres it stays gentle, only the last six are clearly steeper.
The Col de la Cayolle climbs from the Ubaye valley through the Bachelard gorge towards the Var. From Barcelonnette it is 29.4 kilometres and 1,198 metres of climbing up to 2,326 metres. With only 4.1 % on average it is one of the gentlest climbs in our list. The effort is in the distance, not in the gradient.
The Col de la Cayolle at a glance
The key figures from Barcelonnette: category HC, 29.4 km, 1,198 m of climbing, 4.1 % on average and 10 % at its steepest. The road leaves Barcelonnette, follows the Bachelard gorge upwards and reaches the pass at 2,326 m. On the south side it drops into the Var valley to Saint-Martin-d’Entraunes. In our list the Cayolle belongs to the Maritime Alps region.
The climb from Barcelonnette
The first 24 kilometres or so rise very gently: most kilometres sit between 2 and 5 %, and the first few are almost flat. Only one kilometre in this long section goes above 6 %. It is a climb where you gain height almost unnoticed, provided you ride at a relaxed pace. The distance, however, adds up.
The last six kilometres are clearly steeper and average a little under 7 %. Several kilometres here sit at 7 to 8 %, and the very last one eases off again. So the Cayolle keeps its only real climbing for the end. Compared with the long approach, this finish feels much harder than its numbers.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
In the Maritime Alps of our list only the Col de la Bonette is longer, finishes higher and has more climbing than the Cayolle. Across all 100 climbs only ten are longer and 18 finish higher. The 4.1 % average is one of the lowest: only three climbs in the list are gentler, and none in the Maritime Alps. The Sölkpass follows a similar pattern with 26.3 km at 4.4 % and a steep finish.
Practical tips
The Cayolle needs no special gearing, a compact chainset is plenty for the 10 % peak. More important are enough food and drink for a climb that takes a long time despite the gentle gradient. At 2,326 m it is noticeably colder than in Barcelonnette, so bring a jacket for the descent. Heading south you drop into the Var valley to Saint-Martin-d’Entraunes, the way back to Barcelonnette is the same road.
