As the fourth part in a series exploring the famous roads of cycling, here is the Col de la Madone in France. The idea of the series is to discover the road and its place in the world, whether its part in cycling’s folklore or to explore what it is like on a normal day without a race.
This road lacks the myth and history of the others in the series as no race has used it. Yet it has given its name to Trek’s top road bike and was the first clue that Lance Armstrong was going to “win” the 1999 Tour de France.
Since then it’s been a key test of fitness, an outdoor gymnasium, a laboratory even. As such it is almost a workplace for the pro cyclist but think of an office with stunning views and fine weather and one that climbs from sea level to almost a kilometre in the sky in no time.
The Route
The climb is 13km long and averages 6.7% but the typical gradient more like 8% as it goes from sea level to 925 metres.
The D22 climbs straight up from the seafront in Menton, past the railway station and requires the rider to negotiate several junctions and roundabouts so if the road is climbing, the climb has not begun. Pass the Weldom DIY store, keep going and look for the sign marking the edge of Menton and then press “lap” to start the stopwatch at the bus stop soon after.
The road then climbs gradually, winding up via a series of hairpins and passing underneath the giant viaduct that carries the coastal autoroute.
The road then climbs higher, a junction near the village of St Agnès (follow the hairpin round rather than go into the village) and some tunnels cut into the rock mark progress before the final approaches, the ridge marking the mountain pass an obvious point.
The Feel
You can get frisky on the first hairpin bends but the whole point is pacing so start easy with a smooth cadence. Once these were farms with terraced citrus groves but the route is lined with houses now; swimming pools replace the old stone cisterns that retained precious rain water.
The further you go the wilder it gets but it’s a gradual process. One constant is the smell of pine. The road is an ideal procession uphill and the traffic fades the higher you go the road gets narrower. It’s always wide enough to ensure traffic doesn’t block the way, although like much of the region the roads can be crowded. Once past St. Agnès the road enters the pinède or pine forests and takes on a much wilder feel. The road surface becomes rougher too. The point of this climb as a training tool is to test the climbing speed and those wanting to break the record need to know the road because the slope does vary, it’s a climb that rewards the more you climb it.
The summit is worth a stop. Catch your breath first because the view will take it away, having climbed away from the sea there’s finally a moment to appreciate the altitude and view. Then carry on because once you’ve passed it’s time to ride on to the village of Peille and a different world awaits inland, quiet roads and wild hills. In no time you’ve gone from the bustling coast to somewhere with an ancient feel.
Why is it famous?
It’s not be made famous by the Tour or Giro. No, we have to thank Lance Armstrong instead. Or blame him given the public mood. But like several themes in cycling, Armstrong wasn’t the first here, just the most well known. Trek named the Madone, their top bike, after the climb, partly because it was a key test for Armstrong but probably because it sounds Euro, allowing the dull brand of Trek to sit alongside mystic names like Colnago or Orbea.
The first user was Tony Rominger. The Swiss rider won the Vuelta three times, took the Giro once and challenged Miguel Indurain in the Tour de France, one of the best riders in the 1990s. He was client of Dr Ferrari and Ferrari’s idea was to simulate a 30 minute climb, a steady effort at threshold pace. Now a rider can try this on the flat but traffic, junctions and other things get in the way from a constant effort, if you coast for a moment you stop working. An uphill effort is better, especially as you can refine other aspects like pedalling efficiency along the way too.
As a practical solution the Madone fitted, the right kind of ramp: a short ride from Rominger’s Monaco apartment, no junctions and hard uphill almost all the way. And it’s south-facing by the sea which makes it warmer compared to other inland climbs that get snow in winter. 30-35 minutes is a solid effort, the kind seen on many an Alpine climb. The Tour’s climbs can be longer and Ferrari was also advising Rominger to tackle the Col de Turini, a lengthy nearby climb that reaches over 1,600m. The Turini never became so famous although to this day you’ll find the likes of Chris Froome using it as an Alpine test.
Rominger set a time of 31.25 on the Madone in 1996 and the record stood until Lance Armstrong did 30.47 just before the 1999 Tour de France, a clue he was going to “win” that year. Later Tom Danielson set the fastest time of 30.24. Perhaps there was a tailwind that day because he’s never got the results to match this performance. Since then Richie Porte and Chris Froome have gone faster.
Say It
Italy is not far away but it’s not “Mad-doan-ay” but “Ma-donn”. But the actual name of the climb is the Col de la Madone de Gorbio. This is useful to know so you don’t confuse it with another Col de la Madone in the same area – about 60km to the west – nor the Col de la Madone d’Utelle, which is even closer.
Madone means Madonna, not the singer, but Mary the mother of Jesus. Many old road junctions and paths in France have crosses and small shrines, some even have chapels for travellers. Sometimes these are tributes from travellers at other times they were discreet burial spots for criminals or suicides who a priest forbid from the village graveyard. At the top of the Col here there’s no shrine but there is a war memorial, a twisted artillery shell with an inscription. More recently there’s a wooden plaque to Manu Ayral, a local cyclist and Strava fan.
Access
The city of Nice is very close and its airport offers connections to Europe and beyond. If you want to stay in the area Menton is a good pick because it is a scenic town but there’s plenty of choice in the region. Just do your homework, there’s a lot of crummy accommodation. If you want value, try heading across the border into Italy and as a bonus you can do the Poggio, Milan-Sanremo’s famous climb.
This is one of the warmest parts of France but winter can still be cold, especially once you leave the coast. Menton is half-famous for its lemons, proof of the mild winters but the cyclist cannot just ride up and down the coast, no matter how scenic the coastal roads. The corniche roads nearby are legendary, for example the Col d’Eze and the finish of Paris-Nice. There are many good roads within reach, head inland for example to tackle the Col de Turini and the hairpins above the Pas de l’Escous, better known to rally fans.
You’ll spot many riders in team kit on these roads only it’s not Sunday cyclos in replica gear but actual stars of the sport with many living in nearby Monaco like Chris Froome, Tom Boonen and Philippe Gilbert, with many more living nearby. And yes, they often use the climb as a test. Just avoid July and August as tourists migrate to this and the area becomes choked by traffic.
Summary
A scenic ride in it’s own right, a useful way to head for the hills, this is a climb known to many thanks to Trek and Armstrong. Yet unlike most famous places in cycling, it’s not because of racing but training, one of Michele Ferrari’s many outdoor laboratories. As such the climb’s reputation is purely thanks to marketing and Michele Ferrari. Will Trek’s 2014 range still feature the Madone?
As ramp tests go this is one of the most scenic and intriguing although there many great roads in the region. And whilst the myth of Dr Ferrari crumbles, this road is always worth the effort. Time to reclaim it.
More roads to ride at inrng.com/roads
Map photo from http://www.cyclo-challenge.fr
Of all the roads in the world, you choose this one , this week?
Yes and it’s been on my list well before Oprah Winfrey crashed the cycling radar (in case you don’t believe me, here’s a tweet https://twitter.com/inrng/status/287950996099977218)
Like I say, time to reclaim these climbs but it fits because climbs become mythical thanks to races, this one became famous because marketing and Michele Ferrari. I wonder if Trek’s next bike will be called the Madone?
Love the final tagline in that ad, not even close
Ever notice that ‘Domane’ is an anagram of ‘Madone’?
Did Rominger win this grand tours, do you think? Or did he “win” them?
‘those’ grand tours…
They’re still his unless he wants to tell the world something.
How convenient for Tony. Ha. Nice climb. Like the ones around Vence, too.
Miguel, Tony & Co. didn’t behave like assholes, didn’t exploit a disease for selfish purposes and as doping defence shield, didn’t ruin/destroy/slander/sue upright and honest people.
That’s why they were not taken down Lance-style.
So to the new and young generation: dope as much as you can, but don’t behave like a prick! 😉
Nice climb. Cycling is bigger than ProCycling and any disgusting liar/dope cheat. Thanks Inner Ring!
Well, Ullrich didn’t behave like an asshole either but got taken down too, as did most of his contemporaries. Seems to be more a function of time than assholiness; the sport (and media, fans, etc) were a lot more lackadaisical about doping 15 years ago than they are now.
I was gonna correct the word to “assholeness” but indeed, “assholiness” is way funnier!
I can’t see Trek dropping the Madone name. The Trek brand is just as linked to Armstrong if not more than the Madone model. Changing the name isn’t going to make an iota of difference.
Perhaps a slight modification in the name, just add a space and voila:
Madone ~ Mad One
Therapist ~ The Rapist
The Col de Turini definitely has its fame in another discipline, as you say – it’s probably the most mythic of the old Monte Carlo Rally routes and featured in this year’s edition just yesterday.
Yes, and they had a tough time with the snow up there. Still satisfying on a bike whether going up or down.
I lived and worked as a guide in the area for a while (with http://cyclecotedazur.com) and have to say this really is one of my favourite climbs (with the Turini a very close contender). I’d happily take clients up here every day if I could!
In fact a far better start to this climb is to go straight up on to the quiet road of the ridge from the beach instead of heading up the relatively flat and indirect D22 valley road with all its traffic and roundabouts. Just search in Google Maps for Corniche des Serres de la Madone, Menton
Good piece, I’d never heard of the Armstrong connection with this col. This is the kind of route the Tour de France should take more often (that is, at least sometime), because it would sure allow for a great race. I’d really like to see a stage Menton-Briançon one day. If I wanted to stay in the region I guess I’d choose Sospel or anywhere inland.
So next week Soulor? Why not Aubisque now that you’re at it? One tip: Navacerrada + Bola del Mundo (cyclistically), or Los Leones/ El León/Guadarrama (politically), near Madrid, have quite a bit of a story about them.
A good route from Menton-Briançon, it is where the “Route des Grandes Alpes” starts although that uses the Turini via Sospel instead.
As for the Soulor, all will be revealed next week but it’s the scenic approach and the way there’s only one way up, plus it’s a very remote climb without a ski station, nor even a shop. The pure Pyrenees.
As for the Spanish climbs, I don’t know that many but have one or two ideas, plus the series is not all climbing, there’s Belgium etc.
the Soulor road you say, must be the one from Asson-Ferrieres.
I must thank you about the Pas de Escous. I did not know this road by this name, I just knew it was the downhill road from the Turini to get to Luceram and l’Escarene
Great article. Hopefully the Armstrong ‘legacy’ has, at least, facilitated more people appreciating this climb. I’d be interested to hear the times that mere mortals have achieved over its 13km, if anyone is willing to bare their cycling soul!
lovely write-up , this is the first in the series that ive done and it is very much an enjoyable ride rather than hard work. im not so sure that the views are the very best of the rides in that zone but they are nevertheless pretty sweet.
col de turini is a lovely ride from Nice , best accessed via route de la grave to l’escarene i think .
yes all round it proved , for me , to be an excellent spot to base yourself for a weeks cycling
Thanks so much for writing about this climb, not least because I’d read that book by that man, and – because I live in Nice – had been determined to get out to Utelle to tackle it! So glad that this climb is a hundred metres or so shorter, and getting there will be so much more pleasant.
“Perhaps there was a tailwind that day because he’s never got the results to match this performance.”
Ouch.
If you ride the Soulour from the Argeles side, there’s a cheese shop about halfway up! C’est Magnifique!!
I’d think its gradient changes too much for ramp tests. But I don’t know the other climbs in the area, this might be the best there is.
Again much of it is new to me, thanks very much!
Strava segment record…
12.8 km @ 6.7% – 38 min 52 sec
http://app.strava.com/segments/1471695
You start to realise how fast a turbo charged Armstrong can move (although no strava pros have ridden it, Joe Dombrowski lives close a has ridden a different variation of the climb on strava).
The town sign for St Agnes says “The most beautiful village in France”.
Small point but Boonen moved back to Belgium about 18 months ago. Lived with his inlaws whilst his new place was renovated.
Nice piece, thank you.
One thing I’m not clear on – has this climb ever featured in the Tour? If not, is there any particular reason why not?
this climb has never featured in any race, not even Paris-Nice
I think the road is too narrow and rough to feature in the TdF, especially the top section. The descent used to be really rough too but that has been resurfaced.
Also, I really can’t imagine ASO being too keen to feature the climb now that it is so closely associated with the evil one.
Exactly, there are several tunnels on the way up and down the other side that are awkward for narrow vehicles and the race caravan could struggle. The race does not visit Nice and the region too often and when it does this time it will go along the coast.
Considering this ride next week (16.-23. march). Do you think there will be snowy/icy roads then?
Very unlikely, a one in a hundred chance. Of course it can still happen but it would be freak weather, by now spring is coming. Worry about other things, for example it could just rain but most days it is fine.
Thanks. I live in Norway, it just feels like it is winter everywhere….:-) I´ll give it a try if the weather is nice.
Had a great ride up Col de la Madone yesterday (no snow, about 20 degrees in the sun), started in Sanremo, Menton, StAgnes and onwards. Met a few riders at the top, they suggested the round trip, descending towards La Turbie, easier descend and better roads. From La Turbie back to Menton and finally Sanremo (and of course the Poggio at the end:-)).