Col du Galibier ) is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France.
It connects Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via the col du Télégraphe and the Col du Lautaret. The pass is closed during the winter.
In 1876 first passable road could be opened between Maurienne and Briançonnais respectively Oisans. In the north passroad begins in Valloire, this place is only reachable via Col du Télégraphe which is before Galibier and connects Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne with Valloire.
In the area of the summit it was hard to travel. This was the reason why in 1890 a crest tunnel was built, which was opened in 1891. The tube is four meters broad, a single track which can be passed only alternately. The new tunnel is at an altitude of 2556 meters, this is the reason why the highest ponit is now 102 meters lower.
From the north, starting at Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne , the climb is 34.8 kilometres long, gaining 2,120 metres in height . The actual climb to the summit starts at Valloire and is 18.1 kilometres long at an average of 6.9% ).