Col de Turini
| Col de Turini | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Elevation | 1,607 m (5,272 ft) |
| Location | Alpes-Maritimes, France |
| Range | Alps |
| Coordinates | 43°58′40″N 07°23′30″E / 43.97778°N 7.39167°E |
  Col de Turini Location of 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.
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.[citation needed]
Cycling
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 12 | Sanremo | Cannes |  Louison Bobet (FRA)
|
| 1950 | 15 | Toulon | Menton | Jean Robic (FRA)
|
| 1973 | 10 | Embrun | Nice |  Vicente López Carril (ESP)
|
| 2020 | 2 | Nice | Nice |
Appearances in Paris–Nice:
| Year | Stage | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7 | Nice | Col de Turini |  Daniel Felipe Martinez (COL)
|
See also
External links
References
- ^ (in French) « La Grande Traversée des Alpes, le guide », supplément du magazine Top Vélo n°172, juillet 2011, p. 28-29
- ^ (in French) Le dico du Tour - Le col de Turini dans le Tour de France depuis 1947
- ^ "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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