Col de la Madeleine


Col de la Madeleine 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".

Cycling

Details of the climb

The southern approach from La Chambre is 19.05 km. long, gaining 1,522 m. at an average gradient of 8%. Alternatively, the route via the D76 is 19.8 km. long, climbing 1,520 m. at an average of 7.7%.
The northern approach can be accessed via Feissons-sur-Isère. From Feissons-sur-Isère, 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%.
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.
It has been ranked hors catégorie, every year since 1995.
YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit
201812HCBourg-Saint-MauriceAlpe d'Huez
201319HCLe Bourg-d'OisansLe Grand-Bornand
201211HCAlbertvilleLa Toussuire-Les Sybelles
20109HCMorzine-AvoriazSaint-Jean-de-Maurienne
200511HCCourchevelBriançon
200417HCBourg d'OisansLe Grand-Bornand
200216HCLes Deux AlpesLa Plagne
200110HCAix-les-BainsAlpe d'Huez
200015HCBriançonCourchevel
199816HCVizilleAlbertville
199714HCLe Bourg-d'OisansCourchevel
19967HCChambéryLes Arcs
199510HCLa PlagneAlpe d'Huez
1994171Le Bourg-d'OisansVal Thorens
199011HCSaint-GervaisAlpe d'Huez
1988121MorzineAlpe d'Huez
198721HCLe Bourg-d'OisansLa Plagne
198418HCLe Bourg-d'OisansLa Plagne
198318HCLe Bourg-d'OisansMorzine
1981191MorzineAlpe d'Huez
198017HCSerre-ChevalierMorzine
197917HCLes MenuiresAlpe d'Huez
1977171ChamonixAlpe d'Huez
1975171ValloireMorzine-Avoriaz
197382MoûtiersLes Orres
1969102ChamonixBriançon