Sat, 10 May 2014
Minimum altitude: 463 meters
Distance: 78.1 km
Slope Aspect: North-East
Vertical Climbed: 3,637 meters (11,933 feet)
Vertical Descended: 3,637 meters
Rating: 5
Lacets de Montvernier
This hairpin road connects the mountain villages of Montvernier, Montpascal and Montbruna. The project was started in 1931 but abandoned shortly after the construction of the first bends. Work restarted in the summer of 1932 with a new company. Constructed entirely by hand by 36 workers over 11 months and it became one of the most spectacular roads in Maurienne. The tour de France has used the road in 2015 and 2018 and 2022. There are a total of 18 hairpins with an average of 8.1% over 3.4km climbing a total of 277 meters.
Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Croix de Fer (Pass of the Cross of Iron) is a 2067 meter high mountain pass in the French alps that links the Maurienne with the Romanche valleys. From the northeast starting at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne the road covers nearly 30km at an average gradient of 5.5% with some sections at 9.5%. However this is a bit
misleading as there are some downhill sections on the climb and in general the
road is around 8-10% with a flattish section before St Sorlin.
The climb is a firm favourite with the Tour de France and has featured over 20 times since its debut in 1947.
2h14 for the Croix de Fer from St Jean de Maurienne (official TDF route)
19 minutes for the lacets de Montvernier
34 minutes for the final 5km to the Col de la Croix de Fer
Spring, cooler at the col