Croix de Fer Pass (2064m)

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.

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.