Col de la Croix de Fer from Allemond 
                                
                                
                                
                                 
                            Col de la Croix de Fer (Pass of the Iron Cross) has appeared 16 times in the Tour de France (first in 1947). Nestled in the heart of the Rhône-Alpes and surrounded by a veritable who’s who of mountain peaks like the Galibier and Alpe d’Huez, the Col de la Croix de Fer may not be quite as well known as its more celebrated siblings but that’s not to say it’s any less of a spectacle, quite the opposite in fact. If you ever need to be reminded exactly why you ride a bike then the Pass of the Iron Cross will help you find the answer. Starting from Allemond this south side is a long and demanding climb, with two descents splitting the climb into three parts. It has been the first climb in one of the most famous cyclosportives: La Marmotte.
                            
                            Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
                            City: Allemont
                         
                       
                            
                             
                            Distance: 28.81 km
                            Elevation Gain: 1522 m
                            Elevation Loss: 196 m
                            Difficulty: 1297 (Very Hard) 
                            FIETS Index: 6.12 FIETS
                        
                            
                            Avg Grade: 4.61 %
                            Max cat climb: HC
                            Min elevation: 730 m
                            Max elevation: 2057 m
                            Ride Category: Epic Climb