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.
History John Ball, in his 1863 A guide to the western Alps described the Col de la Madeleine thus:
Its altitude was given as .
Cycling
Details of the climb
The southern approach from La Chambre (via the D213) is 19 km long, gaining 1,522 m at an average gradient of 8.01%, with a maximum of 13.5%.
The southern approach from La Chambre via Montgellafrey is 19.8 km long, gaining 1,520 m at an average gradient of 7.68%, with a maximum of 12.5%.
The northern approach can be accessed via Feissons-sur-Isère. From Feissons-sur-Isère (through La Léchère), the climb is 24.5 km. long, gaining 1,543 m at an average gradient of 6.3%, with a maximum of 12%. 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.
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 28 times. For the 2012 Tour de France, the Col de la Madeleine was described as "beautiful, but heartbreaking" by The Daily Telegraph.
It has been ranked hors catégorie every year since 1995.
YearStageCategoryStartFinish Leader at the summit202518HC Vif Courchevel (Col de la Loze)202017HC Grenoble Méribel201812HC Bourg-Saint-Maurice Alpe d'Huez201319HC Le Bourg-d'Oisans Le Grand-Bornand201211HC Albertville La Toussuire-Les Sybelles 20109HC Morzine-Avoriaz Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne 200511HC Courchevel Briançon200417HC Bourg d'Oisans Le Grand-Bornand200216HC Les Deux Alpes La Plagne200110HC Aix-les-Bains Alpe d'Huez200015HC Briançon Courchevel199816HC Vizille Albertville199714HC Le Bourg-d'Oisans Courchevel19967HC Chambéry Les Arcs199510HC La Plagne Alpe d'Huez1994171 Le Bourg-d'Oisans Val Thorens199011HC Saint-Gervais Alpe d'Huez 1988121 Morzine Alpe d'Huez 198721HC Le Bourg-d'Oisans La Plagne198418HC Le Bourg-d'Oisans La Plagne198318HC Le Bourg-d'Oisans Morzine 1981191 Morzine Alpe d'Huez 198017HC Serre-Chevalier Morzine1979171 Les Menuires Alpe d'Huez 1977171 Chamonix Alpe d'Huez 1975171 Valloire Morzine-Avoriaz197382 Moûtiers Les Orres1969102 Chamonix Briançon
Appearances in Tour de France Femmes Col de la Madeleine featured as the finish of Stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes.
YearStageStart of stageDistance (km)CategoryStage winnerYellow jersey 2025 8 Chambéry 111.9 HC
See also List of highest paved roads in Europe List of mountain passes Souvenir Henri Desgrange
References
External links
Col de la Madeleine and preview of Stage 11 of the 2012 Tour de France Col de la Madeleine cycling. Description, profiles and pictures