Each summer, the Tour de France snakes its way through the French Alps, revisiting many of its most storied peaks. Names like Alpe d’Huez, Galibier, and the Izoard are burned into cycling’s collective memory — places where races were won and legends were born. And yet, despite its fearsome stats, breathtaking views, and storied past, one Alpine giant has always played a supporting role.
That climb is the Col de la Madeleine — one of France’s most majestic ascents. It’s grueling, it’s beautiful, and it’s beloved. But in over two dozen appearances in the Tour de France, it has never once been the stage finish.
Fans, for years, have asked the same question: why not?
A Giant in the Shadows
The Madeleine is no minor hill. From La Chambre, it climbs over 25 kilometers with an average gradient of 6.2%, topping out at 1,993 meters. From the other side, it’s shorter but steeper — 19.2 km at 8%. It’s long, punishing, and utterly spectacular.
It has featured in the Tour more than 25 times, first appearing in 1969 and most recently in 2020. But each time, it has been slotted mid-stage, followed by long descents or other climbs like the Col de la Loze or the descent into Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
The result? The Madeleine always hurts, but it never decides.
A Missed Opportunity
There are two reasons fans want to see the Madeleine as a summit finish.
First, it deserves it. It’s an iconic climb by every measure: elevation, difficulty, history. The Tour has staged finishes on climbs with far less pedigree — Puy Mary, Super Planche des Belles Filles, even Prat d’Albis. So why not the Madeleine?
Second, it would fundamentally change the way riders approach the climb. As it stands, the Madeleine is usually tackled defensively. Riders manage their efforts, knowing there’s a descent ahead. But make it the finish line, and suddenly it’s an all-out war to the top.
The prospect of a GC showdown high above the Maurienne valley is tantalizing — a chance for riders to crack, for risks to pay off, for drama to unfold without the safety net of a downhill regroup.
The Road is Ready
In the past, organizers may have hesitated because the summit lacked space for the Tour’s enormous caravan of vehicles and infrastructure. But in recent years, the Tour has staged finishes in places just as tight — Col du Granon, Puy de Dôme, Col de la Loze — using helicopters, smaller vehicles, and refined logistics.
There’s no longer a technical reason why a Madeleine summit finish is impossible.
Instead, its absence feels increasingly like an oversight.
A Climb with a Cult Following
On cycling forums, social media, and fantasy Tour route threads, the Madeleine features constantly in fan-designed stages. Some pair it with the Glandon and finish at the summit. Others suggest a brutal back-to-back with the Télégraphe–Galibier combo, ending high above the tree line in glory.
It’s not just because the climb is hard — it’s because it deserves a climax. The Madeleine is a cathedral of suffering, and fans want a finish line at its altar.
What It Would Look Like
A stage ending on the Col de la Madeleine could be one of the hardest of any Tour. It could:
Start in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, climb the Cormet de Roselend, descend into Albertville, then finish with a summit battle on the Madeleine.
Or come after the Glandon or Col de Chaussy for a multi-mountain Alpine queen stage.
Either way, it would be unforgettable.