Col de la Madeleine

From La Chambre: over 19 km at about 7.8%; from Aigueblanche, 28 km at 5.4%; usually open late May or June to late October The Madeleine has no famous hairpins or summit resort, just a long, relentless slog that tells you honestly how fit you are. The paved pass was inaugurated in 1969 and the Tour came over it that same year. The southern side from La Chambre in the Maurienne valley has repeated sections at 10 to 11% and almost nowhere to recover, so pace it like a time trial. The northern side from the Tarentaise is longer and gentler at first, but its final 12 km still average about 7.4%. Snow can shut it from late October, so do not leave it to the end of the season.