Today will be our toughest day on the bike. Our first climb is to Col de la Croix de Fer with the bonus of Col du Glandon along the way. Our next one, not so easy! Col de la Madeleine, is a challenging 19.2km at 8%.
Col de la Croix de Fer and Col de la Madeleine Today will be our toughest day on the bike. It is an epic stage for us. Our first climb is to Col de la Croix de Fer and has an average of 4%, but with a couple of downhill sections don’t be surprised about …
Col de la Croix de Fer and Col de la Madeleine
Today will be our toughest day on the bike. It is an epic stage for us. Our first climb is to Col de la Croix de Fer and has an average of 4%, but with a couple of downhill sections don’t be surprised about the steeper gradients. After reaching Lac du Grand Maison grades are more consistent between 6 and 7% to after that. On reaching the summit, we’ll head back just over a kilometre and fetch a bonus climb for the day, Col du Glandon. Next one, not so easy!
We’ll descend down Col du Glandon to the Maurienne valley, this connects us directly with one of the most used climbs of the Alps in the Tour, Col de la Madeleine. The southern approach is the most difficult, 19.2km at 8%. Settle in for the long climb.
On reaching the summit, you can celebrate summiting 3 cols for the day, and take comfort that our hotel awaits at the bottom of the descent. Our hotel for the next two nights is located within 5km of the final climb in tomorrow’s blockbuster alpine stage.
TODAY IN THE RACE
Stage 19: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Tignes, Mountain, 123 kmRiders reach the highest point of the tour on Col d’Iseran (2,770m) in today’s short, but dynamic stage. It will only be the second time that the Tour has climbed up this tougher southern side. We would expect the attacks to launch to the highest point of the tour. Time gaps will eventuate at the summit finish to the ski village in Tignes.