 From the west, the climb starts at Les Clapier, near Le Bourg-d'Oisans, from where the climb is long, gaining in altitude, at an average gradient of 3.8%, with the steepest section being at 7.5% in the first kilometre.The eastern approach commences at Briançon, from where there is to the summit, gaining in altitude, at an average gradient of 3.1%, with a maximum of 5.2%.The Tour de France first crossed over the Col du Lautaret in 1911, when the leader over the summit was Émile Georget.