Col de Turini

The Col de Turini (el. 1607 m) is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Alpes-Maritimes in France, situated entirely in the Arrondissement of Nice. The road connects Lantosque in the commune La Bollène-Vésubie, with Sospel in the commune Moulinet. It is the major road link between the river valley of the Vésubie and the Bévéra valley. It is notorious for its many hairpins and scenic landscapes.

Col de Turini
Elevation1,607 m (5,272 ft)
LocationAlpes-Maritimes, France
RangeAlps
Coordinates43°58′40″N 07°23′30″E
Col de Turini
Location of Col de Turini

Auto racing

The Col de Turini features every year in the Monte Carlo Rally, held in January, as the setting of a 31-kilometre (19 mi) stage. The stage is run from La Bollène-Vésubie up to the summit of the mountain pass, and descending to Sospel, or the reverse trajectory.[1] Known for its narrow road with many hairpin turns, the Col de Turini is the technical centrepiece of the rally. Until a few years ago, race pilots drove up the mountain pass at night, with thousands of fans watching the so-called "night of the long knives" as it was called, due to the strong high beam lights cutting through the night.

The Col de Turini featured in the first episode of Top Gear series 10 when the presenters intended to search the greatest driving road in the world.

Cycling
The Col de Turini's hairpin curves, pictured before Moulinet, on the southeastern part of the mountain pass.

The Col de Turini is occasionally included in cycling races. The western side of the col, starting in Lantosque in the Vésubie valley, is 15.3 km with an average gradient of 7.2%. The southeastern ascent, starting in Sospel, is 24 km with an average gradient of 5.2%. Both ascents have a maximum gradient of 9%.

It featured three times in the Tour de France, always mid-stage: in 1948, 1950 and 1973.[2] In 2019, the Col de Turini was included in the Paris–Nice stage race. It hosted the finish of the seventh stage, climbed by its western ascent.[3]

Appearances in the Tour de France:

Year Stage Start Finish Leader at the summit
194812SanremoCannes Louison Bobet (FRA)
195015ToulonMenton Jean Robic (FRA)
197310EmbrunNice Vicente López Carril (ESP)
20202NiceNice Anthony Perez (FRA)

Appearances in Paris–Nice:

Year Stage Start Finish Leader at the summit
20197NiceCol de Turini Daniel Felipe Martinez (COL)

See also

References
  1. (in French) « La Grande Traversée des Alpes, le guide », supplément du magazine Top Vélo n°172, juillet 2011, p. 28-29
  2. (in French) Le dico du Tour - Le col de Turini dans le Tour de France depuis 1947
  3. "Le parcours et les étapes de Paris-Nice 2019, du 10 au 17 mars". lequipe.fr (in French). Retrieved 12 March 2019.


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