Col Agnel ( Italian : Colle dell'Agnello ) is a mountain pass in the Cottian Alps , west of Monte Viso between France and Italy which links the Queyras valley ( Hautes-Alpes ) with Pontechianale in the province of Cuneo , Piedmont .
6-515: At 2,744 m (9,003 ft), it is the third highest paved road pass of the Alps, after Stelvio Pass and Col de l'Iseran . Despite being the highest international pass of the Alps, Col Agnel is somewhat unknown and not heavily used. It is one of the many passes suggested as the route taken by Hannibal in his march, with elephants, to attack Rome at the start of the Second Punic War and
12-465: A modern-era plaque, mounted on a rock on the French side, commemorates the event. From Château-Queyras (France), the climb is 20.5 km long at an average gradient of 6.6%. From Casteldelfino (Italy), the climb is 22.4 km long at an average gradient of 6.5%. The Col Agnel was crossed for the first time on 20 July 2008 during stage 15 of the 2008 Tour de France . The Col Agnel was crossed for
18-402: Is over 1,000 metres (3,281 feet) above sea level. From the village and from Via Giomein diverts a gravel maintenance road, past several ski lifts, to Rifugio Teodulo at 3,317 m and past it to Bontadini-Lift at 3,332 m ( 45°56′42″N 7°42′31″E / 45.944901°N 7.708604°E / 45.944901; 7.708604 ( Bontadini-Lift ) ). This is the highest road in
24-540: The Second Time on 21 July 2011 during Stage 18 of The 2011 Tour de France . The Col Agnel has been crossed twice during Giro d'Italia . Highest paved road This is a list of the highest paved roads in Europe . It includes roads that are at least 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) long and whose culminating point is at least 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) above sea level. This height approximately corresponds to that of
30-525: The highest settlements in Europe and to the tree line in several mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Pyrenees , where most of the highest roads are located. Some of the listed roads are closed to motorized vehicles, although they are normally all accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. These mountain roads are visited by drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and hikers for their scenery and often feature in
36-586: The routes of European bicycle races such as the Giro d'Italia , the Tour de Suisse , the Tour of Austria , the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España . Due to snow conditions, most of the high roads are closed between (late) autumn and late spring/early summer. Notes: Below the list of highest roads is a list of the highest motorways ( controlled-access highways ) in Europe. It includes motorways whose culminating point
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