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Col de la Madeleine

4.1
14 reviews | Elevation profile | 36 photos
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Elevation profile Col de la Madeleine

Statistics

Difficulty points 1179
Length 17.8 km
Average gradient 8%
Steepest 100 meters 14.2%
Total ascent 1420m

Short recap

Famous climb
Beautiful scenery
25 hairpin turns
#42 toughest climb of France
#45 most elevation gain of France
#8 longest climb of La Maurienne
#21 average steepest climb of La Maurienne
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Col de la Madeleine is a climb in the region La Maurienne. It is 17.8km long and bridges 1420 vertical meters with an average gradient of 8%, resulting in a difficulty score of 1179. The top of the ascent is located at 1996 meters above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 14 reviews of this climb and uploaded 36 photos.

Road name: D213

Photos (36)

Col de la Madeleine
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Reviews (14)

5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
GB44
1 Mo 3.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

Not the most beautiful climb in the Maurienne sector, only the last 4 kilometres are clear with panoramic views, but it is quite difficult, especially after the chaussy.

Pas la plus belle ascension du secteur de la maurienne, seul les 4 derniers kilomètres sont dégagés avec du panorama, il est par contre assez difficile surtout après avoir enchaîné le chaussy

Dashboard
hillonearth
3 Mo 4.0

A lot of climbing in one go, even by Alpine standards, at medium gradients, so definitely one to bag. There are many more attractive climbs in the area (the competition is fierce!) although there are big views back down as you approach the top. Some ugly tourist development en route. I suspect the north side is the more attractive. The highest point on the through road is marked at 1993 metres, but you can climb slightly further on a bit more adjacent tarmac to access the newer of the cafes where a sign proclaims you have reached 2000 metres!

Dashboard
Dyssi_Arella
4 Mo 4.0 01:10:00 (15.2km/h)

Mooie klim die je goed kunt combineren met de col du chaussy. Tegen het einde lopen de benen lekker vol en gaat de hoogte ook een rol spelen. Gelukkig kun je boven op de top even lekker bijkomen met een bord overpriced en niet heel spannende pasta.

Dashboard
Slushmeister
4 Mo 5.0 01:47:00 (10km/h)

Super cool climb!
I don't understand those who do not like it. Very nice views and quite different sections.

Dashboard
FBe69
8 Mo 3.0 01:45:00 (10.2km/h)
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

The Col de la Madeleine is frankly not the best known of the really steep passes, and it doesn't offer much in the way of scenery until you pass St François Longchamp, and there can be quite a bit of traffic. Not a lot to recommend it... Its positive points are its regularity, its often very good tarmac and (still) the magnificent view from the top.
It's worth doing, but it's not an unforgettable experience either.
An interesting (but tiring) alternative is to climb via the Montvernier switchbacks, then the Col du Chaussy, both of which are quite demanding (to put it mildly), but you find the Col de la Madeleine road in the 1st quarter, just after a particularly steep section :-)

Le col de la Madeleine n'est franchement pas le plus connu des cols vraiment raides, et il n'a pas beaucoup d'intérêt pour le paysage, avant de dépasser St François Longchamp, et il peut y avoir pas mal de circulation. Pas beaucoup d'atouts a priori... Ses points positifs sont sa régularité, son bitume souvent très bon et (quand même) la magnifique vue au sommet.
Il est à faire, mais ce n'est pas un souvenir inoubliable non plus.
Une alternative intéressante (mais fatigante) est de monter par les lacets de Montvernier, puis le col du Chaussy, ces deux là sont assez exigeants (euphémisme), mais on retrouve la route du col de la Madeleine au 1er quart, juste après une section particulièrement raide :-)

Il y a 4 fontaines dans la montée, mais il faut les voir. En tout cas, à St François Longchamp, les WC publics permettent de reprendre de l'eau.
Voir le site www.eau-cyclisme.com

Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Dashboard
JMenger
1 y 3.0 01:43:47 (10.3km/h)
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Done following the north side (which I found much nicer and quieter). Started at the little square in Chambre where the poles also start. Very even, with almost continuous percentages between 7 and 11%.

Gedaan aansluitend aan de noordkant (die ik veel mooier en rustiger vond). Begonnen op het pleintje in Chambre waar ook de paaltjes starten. Erg gelijkmatig, met bijna continu percentages tussen 7 en 11%.

Dashboard
Dobbe
1 y 5.0 01:24:00 (12.7km/h)
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

What A Climb! There is only 1 word for this climb and that is awesome. Good tarmac, wide hairpin bends you can launch yourself on, breathtaking views and a nice little restaurant at the top. Awesome!

Wat Een Klim! Er is maar 1 woord voor deze klim en dat is geweldig. Goed asfalt, brede haarspeldbochten waar je je op kan lanceren, adembenemende uitzichten en een leuk restaurantje op de top. Geweldig!

Dashboard
Jurne1
1 y 3.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Ridden this one in the scorching afternoon sun, not recommended haha. Fortunately, though, there are a few water points where you can cool down a bit. The road surface is fine, the traffic wasn't too bad but after St Francois Longchamp I could only enjoy the scenery. Not much shade along the way and it didn't run for me. The descent to Feissons is dredged up in several places. I would 'm rather climb from that side actually!

Deze gereden in de brandende middagzon, geen aanrader haha. Gelukkig wel een aantal waterpunten waar je wat kunt afkoelen. Het wegdek is prima, het verkeer viel me mee maar na St Francois Longchamp kon ik pas genieten van de omgeving. Onderweg niet veel schaduw en het liep bij mij voor geen meter. De afdaling naar Feissons ligt er op verschillende plekken bagger in. Ik zou 'm liever van die kant beklimmen eigenlijk!

Col de la Madeleine
Dashboard
A2BE91
1 y 4.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

Oulala the Col de la Madeleine... a nightmare I already had the Col du Glandon in my legs... it's the most difficult pass I've ever had to climb in my life a heat a hunger a thirst and above all a tiredness... I stopped several times I think it was also due to my little preparation before I had a little preparation but maybe not enough the Glandon and the Madeleine combined

I was still happy to have reached the top

Oulala le Col de la Madeleine.. un cauchemar j'avais déjà le Col du Glandon dans les jambes.. c'est le col le plus difficile que j'ai eu à gravir dans ma vie une chaleur une faim une soif est surtout une fatigue.. je me suis arrêté plusieurs fois je pense que ça venais aussi de ma petite préparation d'avant j'avais eu une petite préparation mais peut-être insuffisante le Glandon et la Madeleine combiné

J'étais quand même content d'être arrivé aux sommet

Dashboard
LucJansen
1 y 5.0 02:13:23 (8km/h)
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Climbed on 1 August 2022. Beautiful day and ditto views. Found first 3 km still the most difficult, then good rhythm. This col was officially 1993 metres (vrougûh) but now points 2000 metres. Well, that counts. Besides cyclists, lots of motorbikes. Professional photographers along the road during the high season. A classic and definitely recommended.

Beklommen op 1 augustus 2022. Prachtige dag en dito uitzichten. Vond eerste 3 km nog het lastigst, daarna goed in het ritme. Deze col was officieel 1993 meter (vrougûh) maar wijst nu 2000 meter. Nou, dat telt dan. Naast fietsers ook veel motorfietsen. Professionele fotografen langs de weg tijdens het hoogseizoen. Een klassieker en zeker een aanrader.

Col de la Madeleine
Dashboard
MarcoBardo89
2 y 4.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

Beautiful climb, perhaps even more beautiful the descent. A pity about the lack of milestones, but the arrival up is beautiful

Bella salita, forse ancora più bella la discesa. Peccato la mancanza dei cippi miliari, però l'arrivo su è bellissimo

Dashboard
patrickbaert
2 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

South side of this Tour monument , cycled up via the classic route in August 2022,guarantees 18 km of solid regular climbing. Despite no extreme percentages anywhere, they rarely go below 8% on the white-yellow kilometre markers with cycling info.
In the forenoon, you can take quite a few of the 39 hairpin turns on the route between small villages in the shade. Towards the end, you swap the forest for more open stretches. Especially from the also summer busy winter resort of St Francois Longchamp. Last part to the summit there are more longer straights between the hairpin bends passing through alpine meadows filled with cows and ski lifts.
Fully painted tarmac welcomes you to the beautiful summit with monument , stunning views (even Mont Blanc massif) and plenty of eat&drink opportunities.
Traffic was not too bad as was the tarmac.

Wonderful classic from the Tour that is not to be underestimated because of its length and average percentage.
Is not for nothing "Out of category" , but should certainly not be missed on your list!

Zuidkant van dit Tour monument , op gefietst via de klassieke route in Augustus 2022,staat garant voor 18 km stevig regelmatig klimwerk. Ondanks dat er nergens extreme percentages zijn gaan ze op de wit gele kilometerpaaltjes met fietsinfo zelden onder de 8%.
In de voormiddag kan je een heel deel van de 39 haarspeldbochten op de route tussen de kleine dorpjes in de schaduw nemen. Naar het einde toe ruil je het bos voor meer open stukken. Zeker vanaf het ook zomers drukke wintersportoord St. Francois Longchamp. Laatste deel tot de top zijn er meer langere rechte stukken tussen de haarspeldbochten die door de alpenweides gevuld met koeien en skiliften lopen.
Volledig beschilderd asfalt verwelkomt je op de prachtige top met monument , schitterend uitzicht (zelfs Mont Blanc massief) en voldoende eet&drink gelegenheid.
Verkeer viel mee net zoals het asfalt.

Prachtige klassieker uit de Tour die door zijn lengte en gemiddeld percentage niet te onderschatten is.
Is niet voor niets "Buiten categorie" , maar mag zeker niet ontbreken op je lijst!

Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
Col de la Madeleine
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sergenavetat
2 y 5.0
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

A great classic Maurienne pass of the TDF.
A long climb with lots of twists and turns, but fairly regular despite a few breaks in the slope.
Until 3kms from ST François-Longchamps you are in the trees then it's clear until the top.
The scenery is not so good as on the Tarentaise side.
What makes this pass difficult is the length and the high difference in altitude, you have to manage it well until St François because then it's difficult morally if you don't feel well because you can see the cyclists above and the summit.
The monument that indicates the pass is very modern and has been moved because before it was at the edge of the road quite busy in summer, personally I preferred the old one.

Un grand col de la Maurienne classique du TDF.
Montée longue avec beaucoup de lacets et assez régulière malgré quelques ruptures de pentes .
Jusqu'à 3kms de ST François-Longchamps on est dans les arbres ensuite c'est dégagé jusqu'au sommet.
Niveau paysage rien de terrible beaucoup moins joli que tu coté Tarentaise.
Ce qui fait la difficulté de ce col c'est la longueur et le dénivelé élevé, il faut bien gérer jusqu'à St François car ensuite moralement si on est pas bien c'est difficile car on aperçoit les cyclistes au dessus et le sommet.
Le monument qui indique le col est très moderne et a été déplacé car avant il était au bord de la route assez fréquentée en été, personnellement je préférai l'ancien.

Dashboard
Luminol
3 y 5.0 01:43:35 (10.3km/h)
This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

In the summer of 2021 I climbed this col from La Chambre. Beautiful climb with nice views, good tarmac and little traffic. It is very gradual, only in a few places (at the beginning along the mountainside & just after the village) it is short 10%+ and there are also pieces where it flattens out briefly.

In the ski village, it's a bit of a search how to ride since you go straight through. After the village, the tree line ends and you can see very far. This makes it a bit tough because you can already see the top but then you still have 2/3 km to go. On top of the climb is a beautiful monument-like statue and a restaurant.

In de zomer van 2021 deze col beklommen vanuit La Chambre. Prachtige klim met mooie uitzichten, goed asfalt en weinig verkeer. Hij is heel geleidelijk, slechts op een paar plekken (aan het begin langs de bergwand & vlak na het dorp) is hij even kort 10%+ en er zijn ook stukken waar het even kort afvlakt.

In het skidorp is het even zoeken hoe je moet rijden aangezien je er dwars doorheen gaat. Na het dorp eindigt ook de boomgrens en kan je heel veruit kijken. Hierdoor is hij nog wel even pittig omdat je de top al kan zien maar dan nog 2/3 kilometer moet. Bovenop de klim staat een mooi monument achtig beeld en een restaurant.

Col de la Madeleine
Dashboard

Climbing times

7 km/h 02:32:18
11 km/h 01:36:55
15 km/h 01:11:04
19 km/h 00:56:06

Road surface condition

60% 33% 7%
Based on 15 votes
Share your knowledge. What was the road condition during your ascent?

Traffic

47% 53% 0%
Based on 15 votes
Your experience counts. How much traffic did you encounter during the climb?