Cycling Col de la Croix de Fer North (Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines)
Ride 23 kilometers gaining 1609 meters at 6.9% average grade.
This col has significant notoriety in the cycling world because it has been featured several times in the Tour de France (19 times between 1947-2022)
The Col de la Croix de Fer is a high mountain pass located in the French Alps, specifically in the department of Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Col de la Croix de Fer from the east and west completely follows the same route as Col du Glandon but for the last 2.5 kilometers at 5.3% average grade. Both are famed climbs which have been included in the Tour de France many times.
Here are the basic statistics for the three Croix de Fer climbs, together with the overlap information for Col du Glandon:
The Croix de Fer northern approach begins in Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines (population 1,208 as of 20202) and is situated in the Maurienne Valley which is in one of the greatest cycling climbing areas of the world (see, PJAMM Cycling Saint Jean de Maurienne Climb Area page). The climb passes through several villages over its 20 kilometers until reaching the col at 1,924 m (6,312’). As with nearly all the climbs in this area, the roadway is generally one wide or two narrow lanes but very safe for bike travel.
The first part of the climb is forested.
The climb has been made famous and included in the Tour de France 21 times between 1947 and 2023.
Keep a sharp eye out - there are several old cement roadway markers along the way.
We pass through meadows with panoramic views along the climb.
Other amazing and famous climbs in this area are Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, Col du Chaussy (Lacets Montvernier), Col du Madeleine, and the Granddaddy of them all, Alpe d’Huez!,
We pass above the tree line about 1.5 kilometers from Col du Glandon.
There are not a lot of hairpins on the climb but we do encounter 4 giant ones just before the Col du Glandon.
We reach Col du Glandonat 1,924 meters. There is a col sign and snack hut at the top of this col.
Turn left and ride up another 2.6 kilometers to Col de la Croix de Fer.
The Col de la Croix de Fer signs are on the route for this climb that begins from the west. On our eastern approach the kilometer markers are for Col du Glandon but for the last 2 kilometers up to Col de la Croix de Fer.
Stunning scenery and old road monuments over the last 2.6 kilometers.
The reservoir Eau d’Olle is visible to the west as we finish the Croix de Fer climb.
Eau d’Olle is one of the predominant features on the western approach to Croix de Fer.
We see the 3 peaks of Aiguilles d’ARves (3,514 meters/11,529’) as we approach the col.
Looking back towards Col du Glandon near the finish of our climb.
Points of interest at or visible from the Col de la Croix de Fer
The Col sign, iron cross and cafe are at the finish of the climb.
The Les Sybelles photo op frame is to the left just before the summit when riding from Saint Jean de Maurienne
You can also hike 50 meters up to a World War I memorial.
We had a very nice lunch at Chalet du col de La Croix de fer at the finish.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Gino Bartali and Louison Bobet -- Croix de la Fer TdF 1948.
Photo: Silvano Bottaro, Pinterest
It was on the Croix de Fer on Stage 18 (July 22) of the 1986 Tour de France that Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault distanced themselves from the all others and dueled for the stage win. Hinault, in search of what would have been a record sixth Tour victory, was trying to make up three minutes lost the day earlier to Lemond on the Col d’Izoard on Stage 17. He attacked on Col du Galibier and Croix de Fer but could not shake Lemond and the two crossed the line in the same time with Hinault winning the stage, but Lemond the tour.
Greg Lemond on the Croix de Fer in 1989 (his second of three TdF wins).
Photo: Steve Selwood
Vincenzo Nibali took heat for looking back at disabled Froome on TdF 2015 Stage 19, then attacking.
Photo: Albertnet.us
Col de la Croix de Fer has appeared in the Tour de France 21 times between 1947 and 2023.
Climb name | Mountain Range | Times Featured in Tour de France | Most recent | First included |
Pyrenees | 89 | 2023 | 1910 | |
Pyrenees | 74 | 2023 | 1910 | |
Pyrenees | 73 | 2022 | 1910 | |
Pyrenees | 68 | 2021 | 1910 | |
Alps | 63 | 2022 | 1911 | |
Pyrenees | 58 | 2021 | 1910 | |
Alps | 42 | 2023 | 1911 | |
Alps | 36 | 2019 | 1922 | |
Alps | 35 | 2019 | 1922 | |
Alps | 34 | 2015 | 1911 | |
Alps | 32 | 2022 | 1952 | |
Alps | 31 | 2022 | 1911 | |
Alps | 29 | 2020 | 1969 | |
Alps | 21 | 2022 | 1947 | |
Alps | 18 | 1921 | 1951 | |
Pyrenees | 16 | 2019 | 1912 | |
Alps | 14 | 2015 | 1947 | |
Massif Central | 14 | 2023 | 1952 | |
Pyrenees | 9 | 2021 | 1985 | |
Alps | 8 | 2019 | 1938 |
© PJAMM Cycling.
Wikipedia has a good summary of this popular pass:
“Col de la Croix de Fer (English: Pass of the Iron Cross) (el. 2067 m.) is a high mountain pass in the French Alps linking Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
The approach from the northeast from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is 29.5 km at an average gradient of 5.5% with some sections at 9.5%, and the one from the southwest from Rochetaillée 31.5 km at an average gradient of 5.75% with short sections in excess of 11%. When coming from Rochetaillée, the road forks 2.5 km before the summit, leading to the Col du Glandon. There is also an approach from the north from La Chambre via Col du Glandon which is the hardest: 22.7 km at an average gradient of 7.0% (this is the route used for the 2012 Tour de France).
The pass has featured in the Tour de France nineteen times since it was first passed in the 1947 tour when the race was led over the summit by Fermo Camellini. It was crossed on Stage 11 of the 2012 race, between Albertville and La Toussuire-Les Sybelles. In the 2015 race it was passed twice in the two finale mountain stages stage 19 between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire - Les Sybelles, and from the other side in stage 20 between Modane to Alpe d'Huez. The route for stage 20 was changed in June 2015 caused by a landslide in April so Col de la Croix de Fer substitutes both Col du Télégraphe and Col du Galibier” (Wikipedia - Col de la Croix de Fer).