Croix de Fer Pass (2064m)


en français
road-sign


2 climbs

Northern side
France Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (590m) Col de la Croix de Fer (2064m)
28,8 km
1474m
5,1 %

2002
1h 58mn
14,6 km/h

Northern side (via Col du Mollard)
France Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (590m) Col du Mollard (1638m)
16,6 km
1048m
6,3 %
Col de la Croix de Fer (2064m)
36,6 km
1474m
4 %

2005
1h 10mn
14,2 km/h
2h 22mn 30s(1)
15,4 km/h
(1) Not included: stop at Col du Mollard.

Croix de Fer
The iron cross

Start (Northern side): Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (590m).

Road:

The climb is divided in three different parts between which the road is descending. The 1st part is quite short and the climb is pleasant. After a short descent, the 2nd part is very harder: the slope increases and exceeds 10% at some places. When approaching the 4 tunnels, the slope becomes easier and after them, it's descending for the 2nd time. The 3rd and last part begins with a soft slope, but it suddenly strengthen during a terrifying kilometer (just getting out of St-Sorlin d'Arves). After that, the road finishes with some hairpins. This climb is much harder than it seems when you look at the profile and the average slope (5,1 %). It is because of its length (nearly 30km) and because of several brutal change of slope along the road, leading to very difficult pieces.

There are 2 other sides: the southern one (by Rochetaillée) not described here and the north-west side which is the same as the northern side of the Glandon followed by 3km partially in common with the southern road.


Profile: Click to enlarge

Start (Northern side, via Col du Mollard): Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (590m).

Road:

we start with a slight descent, and then the road climbs quite softly, in a straight way. After some kilometers, the slope becomes harder and the back-loop turns appear. The road is protected from the sun by a dense forest. When getting out of the trees, the village of Albiez-le-Vieux is not so far. The top is about one kilometer further. In a nice descent (6km), the road joins the northern climb to the Croix de Fer, a few kilometers before Saint-Jean d'Arves.


Profile:    Click here

Some pictures...

Croix de Fer-bar
Croix de Fer-bar
Iron cross
The bar
Zoom on the bar
The iron cross
Specific link:



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