Col de Manse
| Col de Manse | |
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Col de Manse from the south
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| Elevation | 1,268 m (4,160 ft) |
| Traversed by | D944 |
| Location | Hautes-Alpes, France |
| Range | Massif des Écrins, Dauphiné Alps |
| Coordinates | 44°36′38″N 6°7′41″E / 44.61056°N 6.12806°ECoordinates: 44°36′38″N 6°7′41″E / 44.61056°N 6.12806°E |
 Col de Manse
Location of Col de Manse
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The Col de Manse (1,268 m (4,160 ft)) is a mountain pass located in the Massif des Écrins approximately 9 km (6 mi) north-east of Gap in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. The pass connects Gap with the high Champsaur valley and the ski resort of Orcières-Merlette. The road over the col is used occasionally by the Tour de France cycle race with the tour crossing the pass twice in 2013.
At the summit there is a "Refuge Napoleon" — this is one of six such refuges built in the region in 1857–1858 with funds provided by Emperor Napoleon from his estate to provide shelter for travellers. Napoleon's will provided 50,000 Francs in gratitude for the welcome he had received from the local population on his return from Elba in 1815.
From Gap, the climb is approached via the RN85 (Route Napoléon), which it leaves shortly before the Col Bayard to join the D944. From this direction, the climb is 9.4 km (5.8 mi) long gaining 528 m (1,732 ft) in height at an average gradient of 5.6%. This is the route used in Stage 16 of the 2013 Tour de France from Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap.
From the south-east the col can be reached from the village of La Bâtie-Neuve on the RN94, from where the climb is 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long climbing 416 m (1,365 ft) at an average of 4.9%. This is the route taken on Stage 18 of the 2013 Tour de France shortly after leaving Gap en route to Alpe d'Huez.
The Col de Manse was first passed by the Tour de France on Stage 12 of the 1971 race when it was an uncategorized climb on the descent from Orcières-Merlette en route to Marseille. It was crossed again twice in the following year when it was ranked as a Category 3 and Category 4 climb. In 1989, it was crossed on Stage 15, which was an individual time trial between Gap and Orcières-Merlette (39 km (24 mi)).
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