Orcières Merlette
Orcières Merlette is a classic Alpine resort climb with a steady, race friendly profile. From the Drac valley, it rises for just over seven kilometres at a proper climbing gradient.
- Length
- 7.1 km
- Elevation Gain
- 476 m
- Average Gradient
- 6.7%
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Community recommendation
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Orcières Merlette is not the longest climb in the French Alps, but it has the profile of a clean summit finish. At 7.1 kilometres and 6.7 percent average, it is hard enough to split tired riders without becoming a pure survival climb.
For travelling cyclists, this is a good resort road effort. It is manageable in scale, easy to understand and useful inside a broader Alpine itinerary. It gives you the feeling of a Tour finish without needing a monster day.
How to Ride It
- Start at tempo rather than full gas.
- Keep a steady cadence through the middle kilometres.
- Lift the effort near the top if the legs are good.
Where to Stay
Gap or towns closer to the Champsaur valley are practical bases, depending on whether Orcières is your main objective or part of a wider Alpine trip.
Practical Tips
- Grenoble and Marseille can both work as access points depending on your route.
- Check resort traffic in peak holiday periods.
- Bring a layer for the descent from the ski station.
- Stage 19 · Gap to Alpe d’Huez
Routes featuring this climb
Climbs worth travelling for
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