Col de la Madeleine from La Lechere in the Savoie

Col de la Madeleine is in the Savoie area of the Alps, and at an altitude of 1996, the Madeleine links two of the most popular cycling areas of the Alps, the Maurienne and the Tarantaise.

The climb to the col from La Lechere is longer than the climb from the Maurienne side, but it’s average gradient is gentler. The col is reached in three stages: a first stage of 6 kilometres at a relatively steady gradient of 7 %, a descent of 3 kilometres before the final climb: 12km of irregular and exhausting ascent at 7.4 % with sections of up to 10 %. There are however sections of respite, with a 3 kilometre section of the climb at a modest 4 %.