Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo

Difficulty points	1115
Length	12.7 mi
Average gradient	7%
Steepest segment	10.9%
Total ascent	4692 ft

Reviews (12)

5.0

4.0

3.0

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1.0

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RichardB94

8 Mo 5.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Beautiful climb, but with pack, summer heat and quite long steep sections no joke. In Protolungo drunk cans filled with spring water, but the 1.5l proved insufficient. Fortunately, I still had some backup drink and there was a fine cafeteria/barracks on the col

sanderenbeter ^premium

10 Mo 5.0 01:54:45 (6.6 mph)

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Very nice climb. But when I climbed it, it was incredibly hot, which made the climb a lot harder.
Sweating heavily in the valley, closer to the top I started to get through.

Enjoyed this long, tough climb!

FrostyRemo ^premium

11 Mo 5.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is a great climb from the Italian side up through the hairpins, the forest and up into the Alpine Meadows. There was even a small snack bar at the top.

christine ^premium

11 Mo 5.0

steady 7-8％ first half with flat hairpins which were great to rest up. then onto an open false flat 2kms or so from km10, to turn off to sant'Anna sanctuary. after the turn off, it's a lovely ride through a narrow/closed, single lane pine forest on a steady 8-9％ gradient. last 3kms are irregular with flat sections and 7％ sections around a glacial bowl with 2 little lakes. a magnificent climb! streaming water along the way to cool oneself (it was hot riding it this afternoon 17/6/25).

Da_Caveman ^premium

1 y 5.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

Very beautiful climb, I did it in 2022 as the first ascent in the Vinadio - Vinadio early in the morning. So for me zero people, cool and wild nature, top. The final part is stupendous, with the road meandering quietly through an alpine landscape of meadows and small lakes.

URMU

1 y 5.0 05:00:00 (2.5 mph)

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

beautiful climb on the italian side (certainly less on the french side) perfect gradients, done in september 2024 passo cicloviaggio with bike loaded to 32 kg.
wonderful colours and as in all climbs with a lot of height difference, it's beautiful to see the vegetation changing as you go up.... on the final, really fantastic the thin strip of asphalt that takes you to the top

Mauriparola

1 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

Wonderful climb from Pratolungo, absolutely one of my favourites. You have to judge when to go, sometimes there is a lot of traffic, particularly up to the Sant'Anna Sanctuary. Very beautiful if done at the beginning of the season with snow still on the road. You often meet pros (quite a few this year) doing altitude training at Isola2000. Good asphalt, narrow road (be careful going downhill).

Pepijn ^premium

2 y 5.0 02:08:00 (5.9 mph)

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Beautiful climb to the border with France. Cycled in late August 2023, nice and quiet on the way so late season, saw many marmots in particular. The climb is very irregular (usually varying between 7％ á 22％), making it a particularly tough climb. One not to be missed.

Kevin ^premium

3 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Wonderful climb that starts from Pratolungo almost immediately with a series of beautiful hairpin bends. The scenery becomes more beautiful the higher you climb. The last few kilometres are a little easier, which allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery even more. Do not forget to visit the branch to Sant'Anna di Vinadio!

MarcoBardo89

3 y 5.0 02:00:00 (6.3 mph)

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

Beautiful climb, quite difficult until the last 3km. It never lets up apart from two false floors. It starts with a nice series of fast switchbacks, then uphill, more switchbacks and so on until the junction with the Sanctuary. From there another 8km to the summit, the first 5 of which are tough. Beautiful scenery, beautiful area. Unfortunately done on a Saturday, full of people

patrickbaert ^premium

5 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Cycled up the wonderful Italian side of this literally cross-border col in August 2018.
Indeed irregular route in pure uninhabited nature with both hairpin sections (34 !!!!! total climb) and long straight or slightly twisting sections with highly variable gradient.
The start is spectacular with a series of 13 hairpins in a short distance to make the very narrow road steep through the narrow valley along the river to wind up. Followed by straight road, occasionally interrupted by a few hairpin bends,
A short middle section (before the turnoff to the pilgrimage site St.Anna) flattens out a bit and then a steep climb to the forest and the somewhat less steep final kilometers in an open rough mountain landscape with mountain lakes, sheep and whistling marmots to the pass. The summit is the border between Italy and France and gives a view of the two sides of the climb.
There was in the summer a mobile snack bar.

The Sanctuario St.Anna di Vinadio (2035m), already visible during the climb on top of the rock, is very popular with the religious (cycling) Italians and can sometimes cause heavy traffic in the first part.
But the 3 steep extra climbing kilometers are really worth it for the fantastic panorama at the top.
Was arrival place Giro 2016, and in the little church even the floor runs uphill!

Attention: kilometre poles from the start of the climb count up with St.Anna as the end point (km16), for those who only cycle the Col de la Lombarde the count starts again after the junction (km13) from 0 to the top (km8).

A monumental climb!!!!!! For me one of the most beautiful climbs on my list.

Martino

5 y 4.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

I know of few cols where the gradient fluctuates so much. For example, the strips of 10-12 ％ alternate with fall flat to slightly downhill. The same applies to the bends. A series of hairpin bends and then straight on again. Many Italians have chosen ST Anne di Vinadio as their destination and therefore there is a lot of traffic on the first half of the narrow road. A very diverse col in a beautiful setting.

Climbing times

5 mph	02:33:07
7 mph	01:48:24
9 mph	01:24:28
12 mph	01:03:28

Road surface condition

50% 43% 7%

Based on 14 votes

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Traffic

23% 46% 31%

Based on 13 votes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Col de la Lombarde can be cycled from 3 sides. Col de la Lombarde from Isola via Isola 2000 is the most popular side, but the summit can also be reached via Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo & Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo via La Maigheria.

Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo is a challenging ascent. For this type of climbing, we recommend mountain gearing, specifically a compact system. This means a small front chainring of 34 teeth, combined with a rear cassette where, depending on your level, strength, and experience, you choose a sprocket with 30, 32, or even 34 teeth. Remember that a smooth cadence is always more efficient!

Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo belongs to the Hors Catégorie, the top category. These are legendary and very tough climbs. A solid cycling condition, experience, and a good climbing gear ratio are essential to maintain a smooth cadence and complete the climb comfortably.

Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo is 12.7 mi long.

The average gradient of Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo is 7%.

Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo has a steepest segment with an average gradient of 10.9%.

The summit of Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo is at 7700 ft.

At a slow pace of 5 mph, it takes about 02:33:07 to climb Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo. At 7 mph the time is 01:48:24, and at 9 mph 01:24:28. For the fastest cyclists, 01:03:28 is an achievable time.

Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo is located in the region Cuneo in Italy.

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Photos (33)

Reviews (12)

Climbing times

Road surface condition

Traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo

Statistics

Short recap

Photos (33)

Reviews (12)

Climbing times

Road surface condition

Traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

Which sides of the Col de la Lombarde can be cycled up?

What gearing is needed for Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo?

How difficult is the Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo?

How long is the climb up Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo?

What is the gradient of Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo?

What is the steepest part of Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo?

How high is Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo?

How long does it take to cycle up Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo?

Where is Col de la Lombarde from Pratolungo located?