1.(1250m,00.0km) START-END WEST: just west of Briancon: jct with Avenue de Savoie 2.(1350m,04.2km)D994g on left goes to Col de l'Echelle 3.(1850m,12.6km)TOP: Col de Montgenevre 4.(1360m,21.8km)Cesana Torinese 5.(1050m,34.6km)jct on left with road to Bardonecchia and Col de l'Echelle 6.(500m,56.0km)START-END EAST: Susa

Approaches

From West. The constant companion on the lower part of this approach is the Citadel in Briancon. It shows up in all of the pictures I took, looking down valley. The jct with D994 marks the decision point weather to take Col de l'Echelle instead. How bad the traffic was up to this point is probably a major factor. From here the switchbacks to Col de Montgenevre look like zig zag ramps through the forest ahead. They may look intimidating, but actually they do not cover a huge amount of elevation. At the last western most switchback stands a gazebo with an outstanding view up Valle de Pres.

Now the road turns straight westwards and quickly crests in the middle of the ski town Montgenevre. The main road goes through a short tunnel under the main business district. But the bike path crests under the Col de Montgenevre sign in between hotels and ski stores. The ski slopes have a manicured lawn look in summer. No wonder - now people drive golf carts around, so that they can knock little balls into holes on steep slopes.

From East. (described downwards). The roundabout at this end of town is the last view of high peaks still snow covered in June surrounding Briancon. A straight, quick roll leads through another ski town, Claviere, while the main motor traffic is kept quiet and away in a tunnel. After that come two long galleries, a single switchback that shows off the peaks behind Sestriere, and another long tunnel. I may have forgotten to mention a short tunnel or two. But this approach is probably more fun downhill, except when it's raining really hard, and then all those galleries would keep you dry.

In Cesana Torinese the traffic from another ski town pass, Col du Sestriere merges. Now a wide, busy main road leads downvalley into Susa. Highpoints for me are the views of the fort in Exilles, then the interplay of the road we are on with the autostrada, sometimes up on stilts, sometimes above, other times separated by an old bridge that now carries nothing but weeds. The swinging turns down into Susa are also fun and seem to celebrate the grandeur of the valley, which now merges with the Col du Mont Cenis traffic.

Historical Notes:

The Romans: Authors, who say that Hannibal crossed this pass on his route to invade the Roman empire cite the Paduan author Tite-Live (this may be a french designation) as source. It seems that the route over adjacent Col du Mont Cenis is more likely. But a Roman road did go across the pass, the Via Domitia was constructed in 121 AD and was ready for traffic three years later.

Napoleon: During the mid 18th century French and English engineers started to build roads that were a great improvement on the engineering of the Romans. Grades were kept lower, the surface became harder and more even, and rest houses were built. Napoleon took advantage of this and improved many pass roads, amongst them the pass over Montgenenevre.

Cycling - Tour de France: The pass was 10 times on the route on 9 years: 1949, 52, 56, 66, 92, 96, 99, 2011. In 1996 the pass was on the route during two consecutive stages.

Dayride with this point as highest summit:

COMPLETELY PAVED:

	^  the climb from Briancon with the Citadel in the middle of the background

	^ the summit is in the middle of a ski resort village, the vertical white sign marks the highest elevation

	^ this view of Susa is near point 6, at the bottom on the Italian side