Another Tour de France favourite, the Col de la Madeleine has featured over 24 times since 1969. The climb from the North is on a quiet narrow road. Initially passing through wooded terrain before rising above the tree line into open country.

   It's a long but steady climb at 25km in length. The gradient varies with two plateaus at broadly a third and two thirds distance.

   Stunning views from the summit before we take a brief lunch before a 20km descent to La Chambre.