Col de Turini

The Col de Turini from the D 2565 is a 15.3km long climb with a positive elevation of 1107m. The average gradient is 7.24% with maximum gradients of 9%. There is downhill tree cover and you spend quite a bit of time in a forest. From the climb you have views towards Nice and the Mediterranean Sea.

The thick forests of the Col de Turini are testament to the unpredictable weather on this, the highest of the coastal climbs near Café du Cycliste’s home town of Nice. Even close to the top of the heaped switchbacks, the sea can still be glimpsed, and warm, wet, maritime air regularly drifts inland and buffets the mountain, leading to downpours on its slopes.

Col de Turini is part of our Montagnes à la Carte series, head over to bit.ly/3kyYBkY and claim your badge if you rode this classic.

The Col de Turini is probably the most famous pass in the southern Maritime Alps. The best known are its west ramp, which has its starting point about 2 km north of Lantosque on the D2265 in the Vesubie valley, and the south-east ramp that begins east of the Col de Braus on the D2204 in Sospel. There is also the south ramp from L'Escarène, also on the D2204 west of the Col de Braus, as well as an access road from Col St. Roch. The latter joins the south ramp after 5 km at an altitude of about 1375 m.

In addition to Col St. Roch and Col de Braus, the Col de Turini offers a variety of options for onward travel. To the north, the Col St. Martin connects to the Tinée valley and the Col de la Bonette, Lombarde, Couillole, or Moutière that branch off from it. To the south, from Sospel, the Col de Castillone offers a direct connection to the Côte de Azur. Furthermore, the Col de Turini is the starting point of a 4 km long ascent to a war memorial at 1889 m.