Col de la Madeleine (La Chambre) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

12.5
FIETS
11.7 mi
DISTANCE
4,839 ft
GAINED
7.9 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Erwan Treguier, Brittany, France

INTRO

A tale of two routes - the southern approach is very strenuous and a Top 100 World Climb, while the northern route is less difficult but extraordinarily beautiful. Although each is a little more of one than the other, both are considered challenging and beautiful - if one finds themselves in the French Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Region and certainly in the Savoie Department of eastern France, this is simply a must-do set of climbs.  This climb is in one of the greatest bike climbing areas in the world.

See our climb areas for more details: Le Bourg-d'Oisans, France and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France.
Ride 19 kilometers gaining 1,480 meters at 7.9% with 0 descent.  This climb is extremely consistent throughout - 95% of the climb is in the gradient range of 5-10%.  The steepest 500 meters is 10.1% and steepest kilometer 9.6%. 

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway:  As with most, if not all, climbs frequently featured in the Tour de France, this road is in very good to excellent condition throughout the ride.  The route is on D213 and is two lanes with a center broken line the entire climb. 

Traffic:  Mild.

Parking:  There is a public lot at the start of the climb - MapStreet View, or within the block - including the Offic de Tourisme. 
Provisions:  There are many cafés and restaurants along this climb and two at the summit.  
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
We did this climb as an out and back with Col de la Madeleine (North) -  44 kilometers with 1700 meters gained - Map

Stay in either of these 2 Top World Climb areas and ride some of the most famous and best bike climbs in the world - Le Bourg-d'Oisans, France and/or Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France.

Use the “Routes in Area” button on the menu bar to see other bike climbs in this area. 

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Strenuous
4
Road
3
Traffic
3
Scenery

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Aug 28, 2021
difficulty: Strenuous
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Aug 28, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
For our first climb of our trip, it was fairly difficult. The first part of the climb was a fairly constant 8-10% grade with few breaks. Views back down the valley were quite something. Once we got above the ski resort the final 3-4 km to the top were fairly benign at 5-6%. By mid-afternoon when we stated down the wind had kicked up and we put on vests and arm warmers. But the road is in very good condition which made for a fast and fun descent!
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CLIMB SUMMARY

wild grasses partially cover col de la Madeleine 1 km marker on roadside

Col de Madeleine south (La Chambre)

Ride 18.8 kilometers gaining 1477 meters at 7.9% average grade.

A tale of two routes -- the southern approach of Col de Madeleine is very strenuous and a Top 100 World Climb, while the northern route is less difficult but extraordinarily beautiful. Although each is a little more of one than the other, both climbs are considered challenging and beautiful.  If you find yourself in the French Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Region, and certainly in the Savoie Department of eastern France, this is simply a must-do set of climbs.  

Col de Madeleine is one of the many exceptional HC climbs in the Saint Jean-de-Maurienne cycling climbing area (in our opinion one of the greatest climbing areas in the world -- Col du Galibier, Col du Télégraphe, Col de L’Iseran, Col D’Izoard Col de Glandon, Alpe d’Huez).  Add that it has been featured in the Tour de France 27 times from 1969 (admittedly late on the scene) to 2023, you have a true bucket list extraordinary climb!  

views within the village of La Chambre, KM marker 19; beautiful water fountain at intersection, street signs

Climb begins in La Chambre.

The col de Madeleine climb has been described as “beautiful, but heartbreaking,” both because of its breathtaking scenery and its difficulty.  The climb is a good representation of what bike climbing in France looks like - gorgeous scenery, pastureland, old farm buildings, and more, all against the backdrop of stunning mountain ranges..

Photo collage shows views along the first third of the climb, including miniature ponies, lush green landscapes with gorgeous French alps in distance, large circular bales of hay in pastureland, old stone farm buildings

Sites along the first third of the climb.

It is commonly, yet  incorrectly, reported that the Col de Madeleine passes over the Vanoise “Alps,” but the col is actually located within the Vanoise massif which is a mountain range in the Graian Alps located in the Western Alps. Along with Col de L’Iseran (the highest paved pass in the Alps) 35 straight line miles to the east, Col de Madeleine is the only pass across the Vanoise massif. One of the more difficult mountain climbs to appear in the Tour de France, it is also one of the newest.  The road was not paved until 1969, but its 27 inclusions in the Tour (as of 2023) by definition make it one of the more famous mountain passes in France and the world.

yellow and white KM markers along the route

There are kilometer markers at each kilometer most of the climb - some were missing in 2017.

The history of Col de Madeleine dates back to the 12th century Tamié Abbey, founded in 1132.  The col was also instrumental during the conquest of Savoie by French troops in 1792.

yellow and white KM markers along the route

yellow and white KM markers along the route

Bicycle ride of Col de Madeleine from La Chambre  - ski resort Longchamp with road, mountain and kilometer marker

Saint-Francois-Longchamp ski area at km 11.

Above tree line at km 15 for final 4 km.

TOP - THE COL

two cafes at the top of the Col de Madeleine south climb

Two cafes at the top.

colorfully painted roadway at the top of the Col de Madeleine climb

You’ll know when you're at the top . . .  

Mont Blanc and the Lauzière in distance from summit

Mont Blanc and the Lauzière massif are visible looking to the north from the summit.

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe (15,771’ / 4,807 meters)

TOUR DE FRANCE HISTORY

PJAMM CYCLING’S TOP 10 MOST FREQUENT CLIMBS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE -

AND 10 FAMOUS ONES AFTER THAT

Climb name

Mountain Range

Times Featured in Tour de France

Most recent

First included

Col du Tourmalet

Pyrenees

88

2021

1910

Col d'Aspin

Pyrenees

73

2022

1910

Col d'Aubisque

Pyrenees

73

2022

1910

Col de Peyresourde

Pyrenees

68

2021

1910

Col du Galibier

Alps

63

2022

1911

Col de Portet d'Aspet

Pyrenees

58

2021

1910

Col des Aravis

Alps

41

2020

1911

Col d'Izoard

Alps

36

2019

1922

Col de Vars

Alps

35

2019

1922

Col d'Allos

Alps

34

2015

1911

Alpe d'Huez

Alps

32

2022

1952

Col du Télégraphe

Alps

31

2022

1911

Col de la Madeleine

Alps

29

2020

1969

Col de la Croix de Fer

Alps

21

2022

1947

Mont Ventoux

Alps

18

2021

1951

Col du Soulor

Pyrenees

16

2019

1912

Col du Glandon

Alps

14

2015

1947

Puy de Dome

Massif Central

12

1988

1952

Luz Ardiden

Pyrenees

9

2021

1985

Col de l'Iseran

Alps

8

2019

1938

As of 2022 Col de la Madeleine  has been featured 29 times in the TdF

©  PJAMMCycing.com

David Millar faced his demons on Col du Madeleine Stage 9, 2010.

Suffering the effects of a broken rib from an earlier crash, David Millar finished Stage 9 dead last (by a good margin -- the last group in front of him finished 4:55 back).  But the triumph of his story is not about his unfortunate time, but that in spite of all odds and adversity this proud and brave professional willed his way up the northern approach of the the col with the sole intention of avoiding elimination.  Nine years earlier in the 2001 tour, Millar had abandoned the tour on the Col du Madeleine.  It was due to that humiliation that he soon began EPO as the only option he saw to competing with the top tour riders of the time. Nine years later after admitting his offense and serving a two year ban from the sport, David Millar was competing in the tour again, not just as a professional cyclist on Team Garmin, but as an an ambassador for clean and drug free sports.  An honorable man and true professional.

Millar reached the base of his nemesis 35 minutes behind the leaders and in grave danger of being eliminated from the race.  However, instead of giving up, Millar dug deep, got in a rhythm and took on the hill in five kilometer increments.  Along the way, many fans lined the roadway, in spite of the true race having passed a half hour earlier.  The fans were not there out of pity, but rather, respect for David Millar, urging him up the mountain and on to the finish in Saint-Jean-de-Maurriene. David Millar was 181st and last in Stage 9, but he went on to complete the 2010 TdF, finishing 157th of 169 finishers.  He exorcised his demon on that day on Col du Madeleine and went on to complete the next three Tour de France races, finishing as high as 76th in 2011 and winning stage 12 of the 2012 Tour.

The King of the Mountains is a secondary competition of the Tour de France.  First included in the Tour in 1933, it has been symbolized by red and white polka dotted jerseys since 1975.  Two men have won three Mountains Classifications that have included Col de Madeleine (HC) - Richard Virenque (an unprecedented seven KOMs between 1994 and 2004) and Lucien Van Impe, Belgium (six between 1971 and 1983).

Mountain King Richard Virenque on Col de Madeleine.

Photo:  extraite de Grands Cols / Tana Editions © Presse-Sports published in Linternaute.com

Col de Madeleine was the end of Cadel Evans’ bid for his first Tour de France victory in 2010 (he won the Tour in 2011) as he suffered from a broken elbow incurred the day before in a crash on the 8th Stage.  Beginning Stage 9 in the yellow jersey, Evans could not keep up with his rivals Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck (Schleck is the winner of that year’s tour after Contador was disqualified for an anti-doping violation). Evans led Schleck by 20 seconds at the beginning of Stage 9, but finished 8:09 back, dropping to 18th overall (he bravely finished the 2010 Tour, finishing 26th, 50:27 behind Contador, and 51:06 behind Schleck).

Cadel Evans, Col de Madeleine - Stage 9 2010 Tour de France.

Photo - Daily Telegraph, AU

APPEARANCES OF COL DE LA MADELEINE IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE

Year

Stage

Category

Start

Finish

Leader at the summit

2020

17

HC

Grenoble

Méribel

 Richard Carapaz (ECU)

2018

12

HC

Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Alpe d'Huez

 Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)

2013

19

HC

Le Bourg-d'Oisans

Le Grand-Bornand

 Pierre Rolland (FRA)

2012

11

HC

Albertville

La Toussuire-Les Sybelles

 Peter Velits (SVK)

2010

9

HC

Morzine-Avoriaz

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

 Anthony Charteau (FRA)

2005

11

HC

Courchevel

Briançon

 Santiago Botero (COL)

2004

17

HC

Bourg d'Oisans

Le Grand-Bornand

 Gilberto Simoni (ITA)

2002

16

HC

Les Deux Alpes

La Plagne

 Michael Boogerd (NED)

2001

10

HC

Aix-les-Bains

Alpe d'Huez

 Laurent Roux (FRA)

2000

15

HC

Briançon

Courchevel

 Massimiliano Lelli (ITA)

1998

16

HC

Vizille

Albertville

 Jan Ullrich (GER)

1997

14

HC

Le Bourg-d'Oisans

Courchevel

 Richard Virenque (FRA)

1996

7

HC

Chambéry

Les Arcs

 Richard Virenque (FRA)

1995

10

HC

La Plagne

Alpe d'Huez

 Richard Virenque (FRA)

1994

17

1

Le Bourg-d'Oisans

Val Thorens

 Piotr Ugrumov (LAT)

1990

11

HC

Saint-Gervais

Alpe d'Huez

 Thierry Claveyrolat (FRA)

1988

12

1

Morzine

Alpe d'Huez

 Henri Abadie (FRA)

1987

21

HC

Le Bourg-d'Oisans

La Plagne

 Anselmo Fuerte (ESP)

1984

18

HC

Le Bourg-d'Oisans

La Plagne

 Pedro Delgado (ESP)

1983

18

HC

Le Bourg-d'Oisans

Morzine

 Lucien Van Impe (BEL)

1981

19

1

Morzine

Alpe d'Huez

 Lucien Van Impe (BEL)

1980

17

HC

Serre-Chevalier

Morzine

 Mariano Martínez (FRA)

1979

17

HC

Les Menuires

Alpe d'Huez

 Lucien Van Impe (BEL)

1977

17

1

Chamonix

Alpe d'Huez

 André Chalmel (FRA)

1975

17

1

Valloire

Morzine-Avoriaz

 Francisco Galdós (ESP)

1973

8

2

Moûtiers

Les Orres

 Jean-Pierre Danguillaume (FRA)

1969

10

2

Chamonix

Briançon

 Andrés Gandarias (ESP)

(Wikipedia - Col de la Madeleine)

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