- Ascent
- 1535 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 19.5 km
- max. gradient
- 12 %
- ø gradient
- 7.9 %
The Col de la Madeleine from La Chambre is an HC climb of 19.5 km with 1,535 m of elevation gain at an average of 7.9 %, peaking at 12 %. The road climbs out of the Maurienne valley via Saint-François-Longchamp to 1,993 m and drops on the far side to Feissons-sur-Isère in the Tarentaise. Its average gradient is exactly that of Alpe d'Huez, over a climb almost six kilometres longer.
The Col de la Madeleine is a climb with no warm-up. From La Chambre in the Maurienne valley it is 19.5 kilometres and 1,535 metres of climbing up to 1,993 metres, 7.9 % on average. That is exactly the average of Alpe d’Huez, only over a distance almost six kilometres longer. It makes the Madeleine one of the demanding Western Alps climbs in our list.
The Col de la Madeleine at a glance
The key figures from La Chambre: category HC, 19.5 km, 1,535 m of climbing, 7.9 % on average and 12 % at its steepest. The road climbs out of the Maurienne valley via Saint-François-Longchamp to the pass at 1,993 m. On the north side it drops into the Tarentaise to Feissons-sur-Isère. In our list the Madeleine belongs to the Western Alps region.
The climb from La Chambre
After a first kilometre at around 5 % there is a short breather, then the hardest part begins. From about kilometre four to kilometre twelve the gradient averages a little over 9 %, with two kilometres around 11 %. This is where most of the climbing happens, and where you find out how the rest will feel. There are no flat stretches to recover on in this section.
The last eight kilometres are a little kinder, averaging around 7.5 %. That sounds like relief, but with almost 1,000 metres already in the legs it is more of a steady final climb. Towards the summit the gradient picks up slightly once more. After the second kilometre the Madeleine has no truly flat kilometre left.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
With 1,535 m of climbing the Madeleine ranks 20th in the list, and tenth among the 30 climbs of the Western Alps. On average gradient it shares its 7.9 % with Alpe d’Huez, which puts it in the steeper quarter. The Col de la Croix de Fer has almost the same climbing at 1,537 m, but spreads it over 28.1 instead of 19.5 kilometres. The Col du Glandon starts in La Chambre just like the Madeleine.
Practical tips
The key to the Madeleine is the middle section between kilometres four and twelve. Ride it evenly instead of pushing early and there is enough left for the last eight kilometres. With a maximum of 12 % and long stretches around 9 %, compact gearing with a large rear sprocket pays off. At 1,993 m it is cooler than down in the valley, so a windproof layer for the descent into the Tarentaise or back to La Chambre belongs in the jersey pocket.
