Col de la Croix de Fer - Saint Jean de Maurienne

The col de la Croix de Fer links the Maurienne en Savoie valley to those of Romanche en Isère. It's a very long and irregular col. When you reach the crossroad with the Glandon, you can make a small detour of 1,5 km to reach the top of the Croix the Fer and to enjoy the view.

The Col de la Croix de Fer is situated in Rhone-Alpes and belongs to the Alps . Starting from Saint Jean de Maurienne, the Col de la Croix de Fer ascent is 30 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1522 heightmeters. The average percentage thus is 5.1 %.

Are you planning to climb the Col de la Croix de Fer? Here, you find all the information to train to climb the Col de la Croix de Fer successfully.

Look for other sides to climb the Col de la Croix de Fer.

Since 2005, the Col de la Croix de Fer will be/was climbed in the following big tour stages:
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2011 :  Pontcharra - La Toussuire on 12/06/2011
Tour de France 2008 :  Embrun > L'Alpe-d'Huez on 23/07/2008
Tour de France 2006 :  Le Bourg-d'Oisans > La Toussuire on 18/07/2006

Story by Damien from , Australia, submitted on 19/07/2012

We climbed this peak before stage 11 of the tdf via Glandon.It was an epic day with the fans cheering us on and the guards making sure we stayed off the road. It was cat and mouse all the way to the top where we watch the tour caravan and the pros strut their stuff. Great atmosphere at the top. Glandon is a difficult climb the extension to the Col de la croix de fer easier but just as rewarding

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Story by Patrick from San Francisco, United States, submitted on 20/08/2011

This climb is harder than it looks, especially in the heat. Between the first and second lakes on the day we climbed there was no breeze and the temperature soared. Only a few places for water you''ll want to stop at. A very beautiful and much easier climb near Grenoble I''d also recommend is the Chamrousse loop.

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Story by trotsk from montpellier, France, submitted on 03/01/2009

Grimpé en été 2008, par beau temps. Col en deux partie. La première remonte la vallée sur une douzaine de kilomètres, cest magnifique mais assez dur car on est tout de suite en prise, avec des pourcentages de 8-9% dés la sortie de St Jean. Après cette partie cassante et irrégulière, dure pour le moral, on débouche sur un relatif replat de quelques kilomètres où lon peut admirer la fin de lascension et son mur terminal impressionnant. Celui-ci est abordé dés la sortie du village de St Sorlin et est pentu, avec des lacets sur environ 8km oscillant entre 8 et 9% sans répit. Mais on ne sent pas la douleur car le spectacle et somptueux: on sélève progressivement au dessus de la vallée de la Maurienne et lon peut découvrir les massifs environnants. Magique !

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Story by Chris from , United Kingdom, submitted on 17/01/2008

Like Thomas I climbed this col when there were roadworks, we started in La Chambre and rode to St Jean de Mau. up the climb till then end of the village then down across the river and up the col de mollard. We rejoined on the bridge after the tunnel. We rode this on the day before the colombiere stage of the tdf last year, 34C, lovely day but a LONG way in the heat. Only the last bit above St Sorlin is anything like steep. If its summer make sure your apply insecticide, I was bitten all over by flies with very big teeth. The ride down the glandon to la chambre is epic fun!

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Story by Thomas from , Netherlands, submitted on 24/07/2007

Tough but beautiful climb. I had to take the Mollard first ( roadworks ) and started this climb for the 16th kilometer. The large valley of St Sorlin and St Jean is nice and the climb is easy overthere, but when the road leaves St Sorlin it steepens. The road is pretty narrow from here and it bathes in sunlight which makes the climb even a bit harder. Nice climb, nice view.

Story by Oscar Leal from Los Angeles, CA, USA, submitted on 09/02/2006

I climbed the Croix de Fer coming trough the Col de Glandon first, the Glandon is a killer climb, starts with about 1 1/2 miles with about 12%, then "eases up" for the remaining 8 miles at about 9%, with no breaks, then you finally reach a valley where the Croix de Fer strats which is much easer and shorter at about 5.5% for about 4-5 miles with beautifull views. Hihly recomend a compact crankset and 27 minumun in the back.

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