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01.(00.0km,448m) START-END NORTH: bridge over river l'Arc in la Chambre 02.(07.0km,875m) lower turnoff to Saint Alban de Villards and other villages 03.(08.9km,993m) upper turnoff to Saint Alban in le Plan Champ 04.(10.0km,1086m) Saint Colomban des Villards 05.(21.1km,1924m) Col du Glandon 06.(21.3km,1897m) profile turns left on D926 07.(24.0km,2067m) TOP: Col de la Croix de Fere 08.(31.0km,1502m) Saint Sorlin d'Arves 09.(37.8km,1249m) START-END SOUTH ALT: route to Col du Mollard takes off on right 10.(53.5km,538m) START-END SOUTH: Saint Jean de Maurienne, approaching river l'Arc.

Approaches

From North. From the top of Col du Glandon, just a hundred meters of climbing remain to gain this pass. The route traverses a gentle high valley, in treeless at half height. You're at the top before you can actually fully appreciate the surroundings. Both approaches of Gol du Glandon can be used to construct one day loop rides over Col de la Croix de Fere. But the one using the Col du Glandon southern approach is very long and goes over Col du Galibier. Using Glandon's northern approach to make a loop, Croix de la Fere can be cycled in a loop without any other additional passes. A nice optional addition to that ride is Col du Mollard.

On top of the pass waits a grand panorama, centered around les Aigles s'Arves, three glaciated horns reaching between 3200 and 3300 meters.

From South. (described downwards): Switchbacks and great views last till St Sorlin d'Arves, a ski resort that attracts just as many bicycle events when there is no snow, as ski events in winter. From here the road follows the valley bottom and descends rapidly towards St Jean de Maurienne.

If looking for the turnoff up Col du Mollard, the descend on the main road from the top Croix de Fere, goes well past St Jean d'Arves. The turnoff follows a small damn and is signed. My Michelin map seems to show a completely different picture.

telephoto picture of Aigles s'Arvres from top of Col de la Croix de Fere

History-Cycling. The pass has been a favorite of Tour de France route pickers only since after WW2. But between 1947 and 2012, 16 stages crossed the top.

Dayride with this pass as highest summit:

left: the jct with Col du Glandon, as well as its summit, can be seen on the right side of this picture, while riding to the summit of Col de la Croix de Fere