45.1270, 6.0390 The climbing starts in Allemont straight away. If you look carefully you can see a spectacular outdoor climbing wall in the village, but if you are on a bike then the big dam ahead of you will probably be uppermost in your mind. Two zig-zags lead up this to take you around Lac du Verney.

45.1658, 6.0420 Then the long and unrelentingly steep section begins. This leads through the trees with hardly any variation in gradient, to the village of Le Rivier-d'Allemond.

45.2101, 6.0571 On leaving the village you get a welcome level section before the road plummets downwards to the valley bottom on a series of hairpins - some relief but you also have a nagging sense of losing height and valuable effort wasted. The section straight after this is the toughest and steepest section at around 10% or 11%.

45.2076, 6.1166 Further up the valley is the vast dam holding back the Lac du Grand Maison. More zig-zags lead you up level with the dam before a gentle and beautiful section lead up to the final climbing.

45.2424, 6.1702 The side arm of the Col du Glandon is well worth ticking on your descent since it is barely off route and only a short climb away.

45.2269, 6.2033 At the col is the welcome cafe and the iron cross which gives the col its name. The views to the south of the mighty Ecrins are superb.