Col d'Izoard
| Col d'Izoard | |
|---|---|
 Memorial at the top of Col d'Izoard | |
| Elevation | 2,361 m (7,746 ft) |
| Traversed by | D902 |
| Location |
Hautes-Alpes,  France |
| Range | Alps |
| Coordinates | 44°49′12″N 06°44′07″E / 44.82000°N 6.73528°ECoordinates: 44°49′12″N 06°44′07″E / 44.82000°N 6.73528°E |
  Col d'Izoard | |
Col d'Izoard (2,361 m (7,746 ft)) is a mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.
It is accessible in summer via the D902 road, connecting Briançon on the north and the valley of the Guil in Queyras, which ends at Guillestre in the south. There are forbidding and barren scree slopes with protruding pinnacles of weathered rock on the upper south side. Known as the Casse Desert this area has formed a dramatic backdrop to some key moments in the Tour de France, and often feature in iconic 1950s black-and-white photos of the race.[1] [2]
Details of the climb
From the south, the climb starts at Guillestre from where it is 31.5 km (19.6 mi) in length, at an average gradient of 4.8%. The climb proper starts at the junction with the D947, near Chateau Queyras from where the ascent is 15.9 km (9.9 mi) long.[1] Over this distance, the climb gains 1,095 m (3,593 ft) at an average of 6.9% and a maximum gradient of 10%.[3]
The climb from Briançon to the Col is 20.0 km (12.4 mi) in length, climbing 1,141 m (3,743 ft) at an average gradient of 5.7 % and a maximum gradient of 9.4%.[4] In general, the col is closed from October to early June.
Tour de France
The Col d'Izoard is frequently on the route of the Tour de France, where it is frequently classified as an Hors Categorie climb.[5][6]
Several of the Tour de France's more memorable moments have occurred on the Col d'Izoard, particularly the exploits of Fausto Coppi, Bernard Thevenet and Louison Bobet. A small cycling museum is at the summit, along with a memorial to Coppi and Bobet.
Appearances in the Tour de France
| Year | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Maxim Iglinsky |  Kazakhstan |
| 2006 | Stefano Garzelli |  Italy |
| 2003 | Aitor Garmendia Arbilla |  Spain |
| 2000 | Santiago Botero |  Colombia |
| 1993 | Claudio Chiappucci | Italy |
| 1989 | Pascal Richard |  Switzerland |
| 1986 | Eduardo Chozas | Spain |
| 1976 | Lucien Van Impe | .svg.png){kind=small} Belgium |
| 1975 | Bernard Thévenet | France |
| 1973 | José-Manuel Fuente | Spain |
| 1972 | Eddy Merckx | Belgium |
| 1965 | Joaquim Galera | Spain |
| 1960 | Imerio Massignan | Italy |
| 1958 | Federico Bahamontes | Spain |
| 1956 | Valentin Huot | France |
| 1954 | Louison Bobet | France |
| 1953 | Louison Bobet | France |
| 1951 | Fausto Coppi | Italy |
| 1950 | Louison Bobet | France |
| 1949 | Fausto Coppi | Italy |
| 1948 | Gino Bartali | Italy |
| 1947 | Jean Robic | France |
| 1939 | Sylvère Maes | Belgium |
| 1938 | Gino Bartali | Italy |
| 1937 | Julian Berrendero | Spain |
| 1936 | Sylvère Maes | Belgium |
| 1927 | Nicolas Frantz |  Luxembourg |
| 1926 | Bartolomeo Aymo | Italy |
| 1925 | Bartolomeo Aymo | Italy |
| 1924 | Nicolas Frantz | Luxembourg |
| 1923 | Henri Pélissier | France |
| 1922 | Philippe Thijs | Belgium |
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Col d'Izoard - 2360 metres". Grenoble Cycling. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ↑ Université Libre de Bruxelles
- ↑ "Col de l'Izoard: Guillestre". www.climbbybike.com. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ↑ "Col de l'Izoard: Briançon". www.climbbybike.com. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ↑ "Le col d'Izoard dans le Tour de France depuis 1947" (in French). ledicodutour. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ↑ "Complete list of crossings". Le Col d'Izoard. www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu. Retrieved 24 September 2013.