Colle di San Pánthaleone from Chambave

What a surprise this climb is: long, hard enough without exaggerating with monstrous gradients, scenic but, unfortunately, anonymous. Another reviewer rightly wrote that it has the same difficulty rating as the Col du Galibier from Valloire, but despite being included in the 30.5.25 stage of the Giro d'Italia, there is absolutely nothing to enhance it. I am referring to kilometre-long progressions, clear and touristy indications and at the summit it is not even clear where you get off the hill, except for a small panoramic forecourt followed by another with the usual heart to enhance the municipality of Torgnon. This is a pity, because this climb has some very valuable numbers and a rather unique setting. On the way up, there are several beautiful views of the Aosta Valley and at Saint-Denis of the ruins of the Cly castle. The route goes from vineyards to meadow basins (Petit Bruson) to the forests at the summit, given the large difference in altitude. The climb is tough in the first part from Chambave to Saint-Denis and then gets tougher again in the central part between Del and the junction with the SR42, especially the final stretch before the summit where the average gradient is 10％. Newly resurfaced road surface and very little traffic (I tackled it early in the morning).

Tough, lightly trafficked climb... excellent road surface given the passage of lap 2025.

Whereas in France they announce all cols kilometres in advance, the Pantaleone does not even have a sign at the highest point. While it has only six less climbing points than the Galibier from Valloire. The advantage is that you can cycle undisturbed. In the beginning you have nice views over the valley between the hairpin turns, halfway it is more or less flat for a while and you ride through the fields. Then it goes up steeper again through forests, until you reach a viewpoint where you can look over the Matterhorn valley. With the ... Matterhorn at the end. That immediately turns out to be the highest point of the col, because after that you go down steeper and steeper, over super slippery roads.