Orcieres Merlette is an iconic Tour de France climb
France, europe
5.8 km
1,823 m
hard
Year-round
# Station de Orcières Merlette
Tucked away in the Hautes-Alpes department of southeastern France, Orcières Merlette is a ski resort perched at 1,823 meters (5,980 feet) in the stunning Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
The drive up to the station is a proper alpine adventure. The D76 road climbs steeply from the village of Orcières for just 5.8 km (3.60 miles), gaining 405 meters of elevation along the way. You're looking at an average gradient of about 7%, though it ramps up to 9% in the trickier sections. The whole route is paved, which is a relief, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a casual drive—there are 8 hairpin turns keeping things interesting as you snake your way upward.
What makes this climb truly special is its Tour de France pedigree. The pros have tackled this road multiple times as a summit finish, which tells you everything you need to know about its character. Plus, the location is absolutely stunning: you're practically on the doorstep of Ecrins National Park, so the scenery is genuinely world-class as you climb. It's the kind of road that offers both challenge and beauty in equal measure.
Where is it?
Orcieres Merlette is an iconic Tour de France climb is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.9678, 2.3258
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 5.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,823 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 45.9678, 2.3258
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