GALIBIER PASS

A LITTLE HISTORY...

Built by the Army of the Alps* the Galibier road was part of the pharaonic project to connect the great valleys by the high passes.

*The Army of the Alps was one of the armies of the Revolution facing Italy. This name was in force until the Second World War

ATMOSPHERE

The Galibier has been cycling's sacred monster since 1911 when the "convicts of the road" crossed it in the very first Tour of France. You should know that at the time, the derailleur was forbidden.  with a gear ratio of 21×11, i.e. about 4 meters of development at each turn pedal!

Only three riders had defeated the monster (Geoget, Duboc and Garrigou) without putting their foot down.

Regularly on the menu of cyclists braving the Tour de France, the Galibier appears to be an extremely difficult stage, revealing of talent and courage. It often marks the end of the debates revealing the podium in Paris. This giant is certainly the most popular in our territory. Her all alone he allowed the Tour de France to forge its legend.

No pass in France, even the Tourmalet can boast to have such a reputation and such a frequentation. At the Galibier, it is impossible to lie.

" In this pass, you touch the sublime, with snow at the top [...] you don't need to attack, it's the opponents who  crack" confided the runner Lucien Van Impe, a light climber, untouchable who competed in 15 Tours de France between 1969 and 1985 (second in 1981 at 35 years old).

The Tour de France will climb the Col du Galibier for the 60th time!