Col de la Croix de Fer

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.

Col de la Croix de Fer
The cross at Col de la Croix de Fer.
Elevation2,067 m (6,781 ft)
Traversed byD 926
LocationSavoie, France
RangeDauphiné Alps
Coordinates45°13′39″N 06°12′12″E / 45.22750°N 6.20333°E / 45.22750; 6.20333
Col de la Croix de Fer is located in Alps
Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Croix de Fer

Details of climb

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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

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The pass has featured in the Tour de France twenty one 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.[1] 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.[2][3][4]

Appearances in Tour de France

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Tour de France at the Col de la Croix de Fer, 2006
 
View on the Valley.
Year Stage Category Start Finish Leader at the summit
2022 12 HC Briançon Alpe d'Huez   Giulio Ciccone (ITA)
2018 12 HC Bourg-Saint-Maurice Alpe d'Huez   Steven Kruijswijk (NED)
2017 17 HC La Mure Serre Chevalier   Thomas De Gendt (BEL)
2015 20 HC Modane Alpe d'Huez   Alexandre Geniez (FRA)
2015 19 HC Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne La Toussuire-Les Sybelles   Pierre Rolland (FRA)
2012 11 HC Albertville La Toussuire-Les Sybelles   Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE)
2008 17 HC Embrun Alpe d'Huez   Peter Velits (SVK)
2006 16 HC Le Bourg-d'Oisans La Toussuire   Michael Rasmussen (DEN)
1999 10 HC Sestrières Alpe d'Huez   Stéphane Heulot (FRA)
1998 15 HC Grenoble Les Deux Alpes   Rodolfo Massi (ITA)
1995 10 HC AimeLa Plagne Alpe d'Huez   Richard Virenque (FRA)
1992 14 HC Sestrières Alpe d'Huez   Éric Boyer (FRA)
1989 17 HC Briançon Alpe d'Huez   Gert-Jan Theunisse (NED)
1986 18 1 BriançonSerre Chevalier Alpe d'Huez   Bernard Hinault (FRA)
1966 16 1 Bourg-d'Oisans Briançon   Joaquim Galera (ESP)
1963 16 1 Grenoble Val-d'Isère   Federico Bahamontes (ESP)
1961 10 1 Grenoble Turin   Guy Ignolin (FRA)
1956 18 1 Turin Grenoble   René Marigil (ESP)
1952 11 1 Bourg-d'Oisans Sestrières   Fausto Coppi (ITA)
1948 14 1 Briançon Aix-les-Bains   Gino Bartali (ITA)
1947 8 1 Grenoble Briançon   Fermo Camellini (ITA)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Stage 11: Albertville – La Toussuire – Les Sybelles". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 24 June 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Stage 19: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire — Les Sybelles". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Stage 20: Modane to Alpe d'Huez". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Stage 20 : Modane — L'Alpe d'Huez... via the Croix de Fer". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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