Located in the Savoie department of the Alps connecting the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys the Col de la Madeleine is a truly beautiful climb that takes you away from the every day and puts you right back in to the heart of nature.

From the rich green valleys to its 2,000m summit it feels like a real journey into the unknown for every cyclist. With views of Le Massif de la Lauzière and Mont Blanc it’s nothing short of breathtaking in every sense of the word

A relative late comer to the Tour de France, the Col de la Madeleine first featured in the race in 1969 but has subsequently been used 25 times – the last being in 2013 where Frenchman Pierre Rolland won the day.

As one of the toughest ascents in the Alps there’s no easy way to the top. From La Chambre the ascent is 19km in length with a consistent gradient of eight per cent, whereas from the north the climb is longer – 28.3km – with an average gradient of 5.4 per cent – mainly due to a three kilometre downhill section after 13km. Make use of this recovery time as from here on in you’re faced with 12km at an average of 7.4 per cent, including pitches up to 10 per cent.

South from La Chambre

Length: 19km
Average gradient: 8 per cent
Maximum gradient: 11 per cent
Start elevation: 471m
End elevation: 2,000m
Elevation gain: 1,529m

North from Augueblanche

Length: 28.3km
Average gradient: 5.4 per cent
Maximum gradient: 10.4 per cent
Start elevation: 460m
End elevation: 2,000m
Elevation gain: 1,540m

Enjoy conquering the Alps! For more advice feel free to contact me @cottydale on Twitter.

Ride safe all.

Mike Cotty