The route is often used during the ascent to Col du Galibier in the Tour de France, and is thus popular with cyclists.

From the north, starting at Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, the climb is 11.8 kilometres (7.3 mi) long, gaining 856 metres (2,808 ft) in height (an average of 7.3%).

They indicate the current height, the distance to the summit, the average slope in the following kilometre, and the number of the street.

From the south, the climb starts at Valloire and is 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) long at an average gradient of 3.4% (height gain: 165 metres (541 ft)).

The Col du Télégraphe was first used in the Tour de France in 1911; the first rider over the summit was Emile Georget.