Col de la Croix de Fer () (el. 2067 m.) is a high mountain pass in the French Alps linking Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
Details of climb 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).
Tour de France The pass has featured in the Tour de France twenty two 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.
Appearances in Tour de France
YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit202620HC Le Bourg-d'Oisans Alpe d'Huez 202212HC Briançon Alpe d'Huez 201812HC Bourg-Saint-Maurice Alpe d'Huez 201717HC La Mure Serre Chevalier 201520HC Modane Alpe d'Huez 201519HC Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne La Toussuire-Les Sybelles 201211HC Albertville La Toussuire-Les Sybelles 200817HCEmbrunAlpe d'Huez 200616HCLe Bourg-d'Oisans La Toussuire199910HCSestrièresAlpe d'Huez 199815HCGrenoble Les Deux Alpes199510HCAime–La Plagne Alpe d'Huez 199214HCSestrièresAlpe d'Huez 198917HCBriançon Alpe d'Huez1986181 Briançon–Serre Chevalier Alpe d'Huez 1966161Bourg-d'Oisans Briançon 1963161 Grenoble Val-d'Isère1961101Grenoble Turin 1956181 Turin Grenoble1952111Bourg-d'Oisans Sestrières 1948141 Briançon Aix-les-Bains 194781Grenoble Briançon
See also List of highest paved roads in Europe List of mountain passes Souvenir Henri Desgrange
References
External links
Map and details of 5 Cycling Routes Up to Col) Information from Grenoble Cycling Pages (profiles from both directions) Cycling the Col de la Croix der Fer from Bourg d'Oisans Croix de Fer cycling. Profiles and pictures Le col de la Croix-de-Fer dans le Tour de France Tour de France details
Cycling up to the Col de la Croix de Fer: data, profile, map, photos and description