Col du Granon is a high mountain pass

Mountain pass

A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

 in the Alps

Alps

The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....

 in the department of Hautes-Alpes

Hautes-Alpes

Hautes-Alpes is a department in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range.- History :Hautes-Alpes is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...

 in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. A narrow tarmac road winds steeply up the southern approach. Gravel roads continue beyond the pass, in a military training zone. It hosted the highest ever mountain-top stage finish in the Tour de France

Tour de France

The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...

—once only—in 1986

1986 Tour de France

The 1986 Tour de France was the 73rd Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 27, 1986. The total race distance was 4094 km, distributed over 23 stages and a prologue. It was won by Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour...

, until the 2011 Tour de France

2011 Tour de France

-Pre-race favourites:2010 winner Alberto Contador was suspended from cycling during a doping investigation from September 2010 to February 2011, during which time 2010 runner-up Andy Schleck was regarded as the favourite. When the suspension was lifted, Contador declared his desire to compete in...

, that had a finish in the Col du Galibier

Col du Galibier

Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France....

, at 2645 m (8,677.8 ft) of altitude. Eduardo Chozas

Eduardo Chozas

Eduardo Chozas Olmo is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist. He won four stages at the Tour de France and three in the Giro d'Italia. He was also chosen as the most combative rider of 1990 Tour de France.- Palmarès :...

 of Spain won the stage after a long lone breakaway.

Riders first to the top in the Tour de France

Year	Name	Country
1986	Eduardo Chozas Eduardo Chozas Eduardo Chozas Olmo is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist. He won four stages at the Tour de France and three in the Giro d'Italia. He was also chosen as the most combative rider of 1990 Tour de France.- Palmarès :...

See also

• List of highest paved roads in Europe
• List of mountain passes
• Ouvrage Col du Granon
  Ouvrage Col du Granon
  Ouvrage Col du Granon is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block and one observation block covering the Col du Granon as part of the defenses of Briançon and Grenoble...
  
  , part of the Alpine Line
  Alpine Line
  The Alpine Line or Little Maginot Line was the component of the Maginot Line that defended the southeastern portion of France...
  
  fortifications of southeastern France

External links

• Cycling Col du Granon - Elevation Profile, Map, Photos
• Le col du Granon dans le Tour de France