Col de la Croix de Fer


Col de la Croix de Fer is a high mountain pass in the French Alps linking Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

Details of climb

The approach from the northeast from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is 29.5 km at an average gradient of 5.5% with some sections at 9.5%, and the one from the southwest from Rochetaillée 31.5 km at an average gradient of 5.75% with short sections in excess of 11%. When coming from Rochetaillée, the road forks 2.5 km before the summit, leading to the Col du Glandon. There is also an approach from the north from La Chambre via Col du Glandon which is the hardest: 22.7 km at an average gradient of 7.0%.

Tour de France

The pass has featured in the Tour de France nineteen times since it was first passed in the 1947 tour when the race was led over the summit by Fermo Camellini. It was crossed on Stage 11 of the 2012 race, between Albertville and La Toussuire-Les Sybelles. In the 2015 race it was passed twice in the two finale mountain stages stage 19 between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire - Les Sybelles, and from the other side in stage 20 between Modane to Alpe d'Huez. The route for stage 20 was changed in June 2015 caused by a landslide in April so Col de la Croix de Fer substitutes both Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier.

Appearances in Tour de France

YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit
201717HCLa MureSerre Chevalier
201520HCModaneAlpe d'Huez
201519HCSaint-Jean-de-MaurienneLa Toussuire-Les Sybelles
201211HCAlbertvilleLa Toussuire-Les Sybelles
200817HCEmbrunAlpe d'Huez
200616HCLe Bourg-d'OisansLa Toussuire
199910HCSestrièresAlpe d'Huez
199815HCGrenobleLes Deux Alpes
199510HCAime–La PlagneAlpe d'Huez
199214HCSestrièresAlpe d'Huez
198917HCBriançonAlpe d'Huez
1986181Briançon–Serre ChevalierAlpe d'Huez
1966161Bourg-d'OisansBriançon
1963161GrenobleVal-d'Isère
1961101GrenobleTurin
1956181TurinGrenoble
1952111Bourg-d'OisansSestrières
1948141BriançonAix-les-Bains
194781GrenobleBriançon