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]
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.[4]
From Aigueblanche, the climb is 28.28 km. long, climbing 1,533 m. at an average of 5.4%.[5]
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.[4]
It has been ranked hors catégorie, every year since 1995.
