Located on the famous Route des Grandes Alpes, the Col de Vars is one of those climbs that every cyclist has to do at some point. With a length of 20 kilometers from Guillestre, it offers the possibility of crossing the symbolic altitude of 2,000 meters, making this climb a real challenge for sports enthusiasts staying in Vars or the Hautes-Alpes.
If the average gradient is around 5.7%, it’s because Vars has a tiered ascent: a steep start to the pass, with passages at almost 10%, then flats before crossing the resort, where the gradient is again severe. The last 3 kilometers are less complicated and allow you to savor the arrival at the summit, where the Parpaillon massif offers itself as a reward to the brave cyclists who have produced between 01h30 and 02h00 of effort to get this far.
