The Testing Climb: Col de la Madone
Statistics: Col de la Madone from Menton, France
Distance: 14,5 km / 9,1 miles
Elevation Gain: 915 m / 3001 ft
Average Gradient: 6,7%
The Col de la Madone is one of the most famous climbs in the Côte d'Azur. The Madone first became famous as a "testing climb" for Lance Armstrong in his preparations for the Tour de France. (Armstrong rode the climb so often that Trek named their top Road bike the Trek Madone.) Today, the climb is still used as a ~30 minute test for the Pros living in the Nice / Monaco area. The current KOM is held by none other than Tadej Pogacar with a time of 23:52 with an average of 6,7 W/kg on the Madone.
The Col de la Madone sits in the heart of the Côte d'Azur and can be easily ridden anywhere from Nice or Monaco. Often times, the Madone is combined with the Col de Braus or Col de Eze for the Classic Côte d'Azur Loop. The climb is also popular for cyclists living in the Côte d'Azur because it is open year-round, and is the perfect climb to do intervals in the Winter months. (The bigger Cols on the Cot d'Azur like the Turini are often closed during the Winter.)
The beginning of the Madone starts in Menton and can sometimes be quite busy depending on the time of the year. However, once climbing out of the city, the Madone leads cyclists to the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes National Park with views of the Mediterranean below. The first 3 km of the climb are quite relaxed averaging just 4-5%. However at the 3 km mark, the climb rises at a steady 7% gradient to the Summit.
In total, the Madone features 21 hairpins that serpentine their way through small French Villages. Once reaching Sainte-Agnes at 9 km, cyclists make a sharp left turn where the Madone's road narrows dramatically for the last 5 km of the climb. The very last section of the Madone starts once you have ridden through the tunnel. Once going through the tunnel, I always recommend emptying the tank and going full-gas to the Summit.
The heritage of the Madone can certainly be felt on all sections of the climb. All the best cyclists in the World have tested themselves on these very roads! The Madone is also everything I imagine a Côte d'Azur climb to be. The Madone has switchbacks, endless views of the Mediterranean below, and a unique French character.
I have ridden my bike in a lot of places around the World, but the Côte d'Azur is without a doubt one of my favorite places to ride my bike. I first rode the Col de la Madone in the Summer of 2022 and it quickly became my favorite climb in the region. So if you are ever in the Côte d'Azur or in the South of France, I always recommend testing yourself at least once on the Col de la Madone.
