
Where Is Col de Valberg?
France, europe
19.7 km
1,669 m
moderate
Year-round
Alright, picture this: You're cruising through the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, smack-dab in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. You're heading for the Col de Valberg, a sweet mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,672m (5,475ft).
This gem is tucked inside the Mercantour National Park, so you know the views are going to be epic!
The road itself, the D28, is a well-maintained beauty stretching almost 20 km (12+ miles) from Guillaumes to Beuil. Heads up, it can get a bit busy in the summer as everyone flocks to soak up the scenery.
Now, don't let the wide road fool you, this climb has some bite! Col de Valberg has even been a Tour de France stop, so cyclists know what's up. You'll hit some ramps with gradients up to 11%! From Guillaumes (via St. Brès), it’s a 13+ km climb gaining 880 meters, averaging around 6.7%. Coming from Beuil is shorter but still fun — just over 6 km with a 231-meter climb, averaging 3.8%. Get ready for some stunning views and maybe a little huffing and puffing!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 19.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,669 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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