Col de la Madeleine (Feissons) - Cycling Inspiration & Education

From the north the Col de la Madeleine is a daunting prospect. Over 26 kilometres in length and climbing up to 2,000 metres elevation certainly doesn’t take an Einstein brain to work out it’s a serious test for both body and mind. Back in 2013 this was climb number 5 out of 16 during “Les Alpes” (a non-stop personal challenge to traverse the French Alps from Évian-les-Bains to Nice). Although I had to tackle the Col de la Colombière, Col des Aravis and Col de Saisies beforehand all of my attention was on the Madeleine. Mentally, this was the point that I’d focused on, where I’d tricked myself into believing that this is where the ride really began.

Despite its relentless length I absolutely love the Madeleine. Its true beauty is that it makes you feel as though you’re really going on a journey, from forest green, past cascading waterfalls, over stone bridges and beyond. I always have the sense that the Madeleine guards the entrance to the high Alps, as if it’s the gatekeeper to the greats. Make it over its summit and the whole world opens up to reveal a playground of peaks including the Glandon, Croix de Fer and Galibier. What a legend, as a cyclist you really can’t ask for more.

Start: Feissons sur Isère
Length: 26.3km
Summit: 2,000m
Elevation gain: 1,585m
Average gradient: 6.2%
Max gradient: 11.5%

Thank you to our partners Mavic, Cannondale, Exposure Lights, Fi’zi:k, Haute Route, La Fuga, Lezyne, Map My Tracks, Muc Off, Scicon, The Sufferfest, Torq Fitness and USE for enabling us to bring these truly special mountains to life for you all. If you're in need of new bike kit in the future and you enjoyed this video then bear them in mind and help keep the wheels turning :-)

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Stay well, ride safe and thank you for watching.

Mike Cotty
The Col Collective

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