From Martigny-Croix to the Great St Bernard Pass (8,100 ft / 2,469 m) it’s 25.5 miles (41.1 km) at an average of 4.8% with 6,490 ft (1,978 m) of climbing, according to CyclingCols. Climbfinder gives 25.5 miles (41 km) and 6,506 ft (1,983 m). Quäldich starts in downtown Martigny and measures 28.3 miles (45.5 km) and 6,591 ft (2,009 m).
What the climb is like
That’s nearly 6,560 ft (2,000 m) of climbing spread over more than 25 miles (40 km), so the average is low, but the climb has three very different parts:
- Martigny to Orsières. First you climb into the Entremont valley on the main road, with traffic and gentle, irregular grades.
- Orsières to Bourg-Saint-Bernard. The valley narrows and the road keeps gaining height steadily, through Bourg-Saint-Pierre, up to the tunnel entrance.
- The final section. From the tunnel entrance, the old pass road carries on in the open, with no trucks, through the Combe des Morts and a final set of hairpins up to the hospice. It’s the most beautiful part and the hardest, with 10% ramps (Climbfinder even measures 11.6% over 330 ft / 100 m).
History
It’s one of the oldest passes in the Western Alps: it was already in use in the Bronze Age and still has traces of a Roman road. At the top is the hospice of the canons of the Great St Bernard, famous for its dogs, and a statue of Saint Bernard from 1905, on the Italian side. Since the road tunnel opened in 1964, the pass has been mostly a tourist route.
The Tour de France has climbed it five times; the last, in 2009, was up this side. It was on the route of the 2023 Giro d’Italia but was cut because of bad weather.
When to go, water and traffic
The final section, above the tunnel, closes in winter and opens well into summer: check before you go. The lower part has quite a bit of traffic. There’s water and shops in Orsières and Bourg-Saint-Pierre; at the top, the hospice and a hotel.
What gearing to use
At 3 W/kg and 159 lb (72 kg), you’ll ride about 6.8 mph (11 km/h) on 8%; with a 34x30 that’s about 77 rpm. For the finish, with 10% ramps and nearly three hours in your legs, a 34x32 gives you some margin. Compare options in the gear calculator.
Tips
- Pace yourself: the first 18.6 miles (30 km) are deceptive.
- Bring food for three hours.
- Pack warm clothes: at nearly 8,200 ft (2,500 m), it can snow at the top in midsummer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb the Great St Bernard from Martigny?
A 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 2 h 30 min at 3 W/kg (216 W), 2 h 55 min at 2.5 W/kg and 1 h 58 min at 4 W/kg. Work out your own time with your weight and power in the calculator on this page.
Do you have to ride through the Great St Bernard tunnel?
No. The tunnel, opened in 1964, starts at about 6,283 ft (1,915 m) at Bourg-Saint-Bernard; the pass road continues above it, in the open air, to the top.
Which side of the Great St Bernard is harder?
The Martigny side is longer (25.5 miles / 41 km and nearly 6,560 ft / 2,000 m); the Aosta side is about 21.1 miles (34 km) at 5.5% with about 6,150 ft (1,875 m) of climbing.