Col de La Croix de Fer (2067m)
On a sunny summer weekend this summit feels like the center of cycle racing culture of the western Alps. It's not only a center of Tour de France activity but also a popular hangout spot and finish point of many a private rivalry between friends, not to mention many other organized races other than the Tour.
360° panoramic views of les Aiguilles d'Arves are your reward when you get to the top of the Col de la Croix de Fer, three glaciated horns reaching between 3200 and 3300m provide stunning scenery. It follows the same route as the Col du Glandon until the last 5km where you peel off; a more relaxed slope but taking you 143m higher than the Glandon, and to the edge of the next valley… an optional extra but a worthy detour.
The Croix de Fer opened in 1912 and has featured 16 times since its first inclusion in the 1947 Tour de France.
If this has not quenched your thirst for exhilaration you can continue along the Col de Toussuire and further still to the Col du Mollard. Or why not try the road Above Chalmieu after/before.
| Distance Travelled from Allemont | 28km |
| Maximum Altitude | 2067m |
| Minimum Altitude | 720m |
| Average Gradient | 4.8% |
| Maximum Gradient | 11.2% |
We will always try to work around your schedule. As a small specialist tour operator exclusively providing luxury holidays to Vaujany, we have the flexibility often missing from larger companies.
Be it to organise a quick second break, a weekend get-away for a large group or perhaps a corporate weekend, we can tailor make a break that meets all your requirements.
We've partnered with The Chalet Chef to make hosting memorable evening an absolute breeze. Their chefs will take care of everything for you from start to finish.
Cycling in the French Alps and Oisans area is a wonderful experience. Riding out of Vaujany every morning whether to train or compete, is like riding through the annals of cycling history.
There's nothing quite like a good pair of shoes, and bicycles work in a similar way; a good well-adjusted bike to suit your body type and riding ability will make you ride more comfortably, last longer and roll faster.
Skiing season over? Not a chance I hear you say! Think again - You can ski in the summer in the French Alps, no need to put away that precious ski gear.
