What are the cycling conditions like in Col de la Madeleine?

🚧 Opening & closure period Typically opens late May or early June depending on snow clearance. Often closes in November when winter snow begins. Typical official seasonal window: ≈ 20 May – 17 November . Forecast road-authority estimates show: closure ≈ early November reopening ≈ 4th Friday of May . 📌 Outside that window the road is usually snow-covered and inaccessible. 🌦️ Seasonal conditions for cyclists ❄️ Winter (Nov – May) Road buried under snow → closed Alpine storms, ice, avalanches possible Not rideable (except ski touring access) 🌱 Late spring (late May – June) Pass often just reopened Expect: snow walls beside road cold summit temps (can be near freezing mornings) meltwater across asphalt Conditions highly variable year-to-year because reopening depends on snow depth. ☀️ Summer (July – August) Prime cycling season Roads clear and fully accessible Typical conditions: warm valleys cool summit strong sun + thin air Still possible: afternoon storms rapid temp drops on descents 🍂 Autumn (Sept – mid-Nov) Often excellent riding: stable air fewer tourists Risks increase toward November: early snowfalls can close pass suddenly cold mornings + icy patches 🌬️ Wind & temperature behavior (typical alpine pattern) Even in summer expect: big temperature gradient from valley → summit strong winds at exposed summit ridges rapid weather shifts (sun → storm in <1 h) Because it sits at ~2000 m, conditions are much harsher than nearby towns. 🚴 Climbing characteristics (important for planning) South side from La Chambre: ~19 km climb ~7.8 % average frequent 10–11 % ramps North side: longer but more varied with some relief sections 🧭 What cyclists should expect year-round Always plan for: sudden weather changes colder summit than forecast wind chill on descent limited services outside summer season 📌 Short summary Col de la Madeleine is a classic high Alpine pass open roughly late May → early Nov. Best cycling conditions: July–September. Expect cold summit temps, strong winds, and unpredictable weather even in summer. Snow closes it all winter and can delay spring opening.

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Detailed cycling weather forecast for Col de la Madeleine. See wind direction, temperature and rain along the entire climb and descent.

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Pass Information

1,746m

Elevation

Current status: unknown

Opening Period: Ganzjährig offen

Current Conditions

Could not reliably identify pass 'Col de la Madeleine' in Savoie external list.

Wed

11 Mar

ac_unit

Snow

06:52 — 18:32

5° / -3°

Precipitation 0 mm

Humidity 86 %

🚧 Opening & closure period

Typically opens late May or early June depending on snow clearance.
Often closes in November when winter snow begins.
Typical official seasonal window: ≈ 20 May – 17 November.
Forecast road-authority estimates show:
- closure ≈ early November
- reopening ≈ 4th Friday of May.

📌 Outside that window the road is usually snow-covered and inaccessible.

🌦️ Seasonal conditions for cyclists

❄️ Winter (Nov – May)

Road buried under snow → closed
Alpine storms, ice, avalanches possible
Not rideable (except ski touring access)

🌱 Late spring (late May – June)

Pass often just reopened
Expect:
- snow walls beside road
- cold summit temps (can be near freezing mornings)
- meltwater across asphalt
Conditions highly variable year-to-year because reopening depends on snow depth.

☀️ Summer (July – August)

Prime cycling season
Roads clear and fully accessible
Typical conditions:
- warm valleys
- cool summit
- strong sun + thin air
Still possible:
- afternoon storms
- rapid temp drops on descents

🍂 Autumn (Sept – mid-Nov)

Often excellent riding:
- stable air
- fewer tourists
Risks increase toward November:
- early snowfalls can close pass suddenly
- cold mornings + icy patches

🌬️ Wind & temperature behavior (typical alpine pattern)

Even in summer expect:

big temperature gradient from valley → summit
strong winds at exposed summit ridges
rapid weather shifts (sun → storm in <1 h)

Because it sits at ~2000 m, conditions are much harsher than nearby towns.

🚴 Climbing characteristics (important for planning)

South side from La Chambre:
- ~19 km climb
- ~7.8 % average
- frequent 10–11 % ramps
North side:
- longer but more varied with some relief sections

🧭 What cyclists should expect year-round

Always plan for:

sudden weather changes
colder summit than forecast
wind chill on descent
limited services outside summer season

📌 Short summary

Col de la Madeleine is a classic high Alpine pass open roughly late May → early Nov.
Best cycling conditions: July–September.
Expect cold summit temps, strong winds, and unpredictable weather even in summer. Snow closes it all winter and can delay spring opening.

Check weather on own route

Location

Weather Forecast

Next 7 Days

Wed

11 Mar

ac_unit

Snow

06:52 — 18:32

5° / -3°

Precipitation 0 mm

Humidity 86 %

Thu

12 Mar

ac_unit

Snow

06:50 — 18:33

7° / -1°

Precipitation 2 mm

Humidity 98 %

Fri

13 Mar

cloud

Overcast

06:48 — 18:35

8° / -4°

Precipitation 0 mm

Humidity 87 %

Sat

14 Mar

ac_unit

Snow

06:46 — 18:36

-1° / -5°

Precipitation 13 mm

Humidity 95 %

Sun

15 Mar

ac_unit

Snow showers

06:44 — 18:37

3° / -6°

Precipitation 12 mm

Humidity 100 %

Mon

16 Mar

ac_unit

Snow

06:42 — 18:38

2° / -5°

Precipitation 1 mm

Humidity 97 %

Tue

17 Mar

cloud

Overcast

06:40 — 18:40

5° / -4°

Precipitation 0 mm

Humidity 86 %

Climate Overview

Month	Temp Day	Temp Night	Sunny Days	Sun Hours	Rain Days	Precipitation	Humidity	UV Index	Day Length
Jan	0°C	-9°C	22	6.2h	22	103 mm	75 %	2	9h 12m
Feb	2°C	-8°C	24	8.1h	9	18 mm	73 %	3	10h 25m
Mar	3°C	-6°C	22	8.4h	16	77 mm	70 %	4	11h 57m
Apr	6°C	-2°C	24	9.4h	16	233 mm	68 %	5	13h 32m
May	11°C	1°C	29	12.3h	18	66 mm	65 %	6	14h 53m
Jun	21°C	9°C	29	13.9h	21	31 mm	67 %	7	15h 35m
Jul	19°C	8°C	31	13.7h	18	35 mm	66 %	8	15h 13m
Aug	20°C	9°C	30	12.4h	16	40 mm	68 %	7	14h 1m
Sep	15°C	5°C	26	10.2h	14	63 mm	70 %	5	12h 30m
Oct	11°C	2°C	24	8.4h	15	82 mm	72 %	4	10h 55m
Nov	4°C	-3°C	24	7.4h	11	45 mm	76 %	2	9h 32m
Dec	2°C	-5°C	18	5.6h	15	96 mm	77 %	2	8h 48m