Col de la Madeleine explained

Col de la Madeleine
Elevation M:1993
Traversed:D213
Map:Alps
Label:Col de la Madeleine
Coords:45.4347°N 6.3756°W
Location:Savoie, France
Range:Alps

Col de la Madeleine (el. 1,993 m.) is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Savoie in France which connects La Chambre in Maurienne with La Léchère in Tarentaise. The pass is closed from November to the beginning of June. It has been described as "beautiful, but heartbreaking".[1]

Cycling

Details of the climb

The southern approach from La Chambre (via the D213) is 19.05 km. long, gaining 1,522 m. at an average gradient of 8%.[2] Alternatively, the route via the D76 is 19.8 km. long, climbing 1,520 m. at an average of 7.7%.[3]

The northern approach can be accessed via Feissons-sur-Isère. From Feissons-sur-Isère (through La Léchère), the climb is 25.3 km. long, gaining 1,585 m. at an average gradient of 6.2%. For the 2012 Tour de France, the height at the summit is shown as 2,000 m., whereas in previous years it has been shown as 1,993 m.

From Aigueblanche, the climb is 28.28 km. long, climbing 1,533 m. at an average of 5.4%.[4]

On both sides of the Col de la Madeleine mountain pass cycling milestones are placed every kilometre. They indicate the distance to the summit, the current height, and the average slope in the following kilometre. Such signposting for cyclists has become common in most major mountain passes in the French Pyrenees and Alps.

Appearances in Tour de France

The pass was first included in the Tour de France in 1969 and has since featured 25 times.[5]

It has been ranked hors catégorie, every year since 1995.

YearStageCategoryStartFinish Leader at the summit
202017HCGrenobleMéribel
201812HCBourg-Saint-MauriceAlpe d'Huez
201319HCLe Bourg-d'OisansLe Grand-Bornand
201211HC
20109HCMorzine-AvoriazSaint-Jean-de-Maurienne
200511HC CourchevelBriançon
200417HC Bourg d'OisansLe Grand-Bornand
200216HC Les Deux AlpesLa Plagne
200110HC Aix-les-BainsAlpe d'Huez
200015HC BriançonCourchevel
199816HC VizilleAlbertville
199714HC Le Bourg-d'OisansCourchevel
19967HC ChambéryLes Arcs
199510HC La PlagneAlpe d'Huez
1994171 Val Thorens
199011HC Saint-Gervais
1988121
198721HC La Plagne
198418HC La Plagne
198318HC
1981191
198017HC Serre-ChevalierMorzine
197917HC Les Menuires
1977171 Chamonix
1975171 ValloireMorzine-Avoriaz
197382 MoûtiersLes Orres
1969102 ChamonixBriançon

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: July 12: Stage 11. Tour de France 2012: Five key days to make or break Bradley Wiggins. Daily Telegraph. 10 July 2012. 10 July 2012.
  2. Web site: Col de la Madeleine: La Chambre via D213. www.climbbybike.com . 10 July 2012.
  3. Web site: Col de la Madeleine: La Chambre via D76. www.climbbybike.com . 10 July 2012.
  4. Web site: Col de la Madeleine: Aigueblanche. www.climbbybike.com. 10 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Le col de la Madeleine dans le Tour de France. ledicodutour.com. 10 August 2022. fr.