COLLAR AGNEL/VALICO DELL' AGNELO: 2744M (south-eastern slope)
Co-ordinates IGN: 54 3637-O 113-048. Michelin: 77-19-078-139
The collar Agnel makes it possible to pass from the Regional Park of Queyras, in the High Alps, with the Valley Varaita, in Italian Piedmont. It is precisely on this Piedmontese slope, that is held undoubtedly one of most severe climbed alpine, in the category of the large collars to more than 2000 Mr. This giant ignored, which culminates to 2744 m of altitude, is only seen exceeded few meters, by the collar of Iseran (2764 m), the collar of Stelvio (2757 m) and the summit of Bonette (2802 m).
The collar Agnel, with 2 744 meters of altitude, is the second higher collar road of the French Alps just behind the collar of Iseran (2 770 m). It connects France(région of Queyras, in Hautes-Alpes) in Italy (area of the Viso mount). This collar is closed during the winter season.
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But, more than its altitude these are the high percentages which impress, in particular in the last nine kilometers after the bridge on the Varaita torrent, where the cyclist will be confronted with a formidable wall with 10% of average slope, but where often the slope oscillates between 11 and 12%. The purple passage is at the kilometer 17,5 after a pin on the right, where a slope with more than 14% out of 300 m makes it possible to cross the spine of Costa Ciais, buttress of the Peak of Silk, quite visible towards the North-East, whereas the road goes up in long rectilinear portions the small valley of Agnel. One approaches then a series of eight laces, punctuated of a short projecting ledge (3% out of 300 m), after the twentieth kilometer. It will be there, the only place to blow a little before approaching 3,3 kilometers very difficult oscillating between 11 and 12%! Three the last hundred meters before the collar will be negotiated only to 6,6%. It should be noted that this wall of nine kilometers is located at an altitude ranging between 1840 m and 2744 m, which still increases the effort required to progress…
The departure of the collar Agnel was fixed at Torette, to 1143 m of altitude, because it is starting from this hamlet that the true one begins climbed. Until Chianale, the variable slope, decorated some let us raidillons from 9 to 11%, will allow a good setting in legs before approaching the last section. In this first part, the landscape is resting and very pleasant, when one goes along bank of the Lake Castello. After the old customs, the decoration becomes increasingly mineral when one approaches the collar, dominated in the North-East by (3208 m) and the Peak Sugar loaf of Silk (3220 m), while at the bottom towards the east, the Viso Mount seems to reign as a Master top of his 3841 m!
This imposing landscape and this sight with 360° on the French Alps and Italians are a beautiful reward
