The Col de Turini, in the Nice hinterland, owes its fame to the Monte Carlo Rally, whose night stage has been contested on its hairpins for decades. For cyclists, it’s a long and varied climb through forests and perched villages of the Alpes-Maritimes.
The profile from Sospel
From Sospel, expect about 24.1 km and 1,244 m of climbing, averaging 5.2% and fairly even up to the outskirts of Moulinet. The steepest section, around 11.4%, comes in the first kilometres out of Sospel; after that, the final twelve kilometres from Moulinet rise at a steady 8-9%.
Getting the ride right
The length of the climb calls for pacing the effort from the start rather than going too hard on the steep opening section. A compact or triple chainset makes a real difference in managing the sustained percentages of the second half, on a well-surfaced road with no flat stretch to recover on.
When to go
April to October, as the road generally stays rideable year-round but conditions can deteriorate at altitude outside the season. The hairpins, often cleared of trees, are exposed to wind and temperature swings — worth packing a windbreaker layer for the shaded sections.
Good to know
Sospel, a medieval village at the foot of the pass, offers a good choice of accommodation and convenient access to other hinterland climbs such as the Col de Braus. The summit, popular year-round with motorsport rally fans, also marks the switch over into the Vésubie valley.
