- Ascent
- 2320 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 56.8 km
- max. gradient
- 18 %
- ø gradient
- 4.1 %
The Colle del Nivolet from Cuorgnè is an HC climb of 56.8 km with 2,320 m of elevation gain at an average of 4.1 %, peaking at 18 %. The road runs up the Valle Orco via Ceresole Reale into the Gran Paradiso National Park to 2,612 m, and the way back is the same road. It is the longest climb in our list.
No climb in our list is longer than the Colle del Nivolet. From Cuorgnè it is 56.8 kilometres and 2,320 metres of climbing up to 2,612 metres in the Gran Paradiso National Park. Only the Pico del Veleta has more elevation gain. The 4.1 % average says little, because the climb comes in blocks and saves its steepest part for the very end.
The Colle del Nivolet at a glance
The key figures from Cuorgnè: category HC, 56.8 km, 2,320 m of climbing, 4.1 % on average and 18 % at its steepest. The road runs up the Valle Orco via Ceresole Reale into the Gran Paradiso National Park and ends at 2,612 m. Start and finish are both in Cuorgnè, so the way back is the same road. In our list the Nivolet belongs to the Western Alps region.
The climb from Cuorgnè
The first 25 kilometres or so are a long valley approach and almost flat, most kilometres stay below 3 %. Then comes a first climbing block of about eleven kilometres averaging close to 6 %, which gets steeper towards its end. After it the road eases again for around nine kilometres, with a few level pieces. Up to this point you have ridden more than 45 kilometres and are still far from the top.
The last 13 kilometres or so are the real mountain and average around 7.5 %. Short steep ramps alternate with calmer pieces, and one kilometre in between is almost flat. The last kilometre is the steepest of the whole climb. After more than 55 kilometres it is the hardest possible place for it.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
The Nivolet is the longest climb in our list, and only the Pico del Veleta has more elevation gain, with 2,788 m over 48.4 km. At 2,612 m it also finishes high, only nine climbs end higher. Its 4.1 % average is the lowest of all 30 Western Alps climbs, and only three climbs in the whole list are gentler. The 18 % peak, on the other hand, is one of the higher ones, only twelve climbs have a steeper one.
Practical tips
The Nivolet is a day in itself: plan food and drink for many hours in the saddle. Save your strength on the long valley section, the steep kilometres only come at the end. For the steep final part a compact gearing with a large sprocket makes sense. At 2,612 m it is cold even in summer, so warm layers for the top and the long descent back to Cuorgnè are essential.
