“Col de la Croix de Fer” Details (Zwift Climb Portal)

Located in France’s Rhône-Alpes, Col de la Croix de Fer (Pass of the Iron Cross) is a truly unique experience with its varied views and pitches. Don’t be fooled by its average gradient: the profile is irregular, with flowing sections, steep ramps over 12%, and even some downhill bits. You’ll have to constantly adapt and be strong both physically and mentally to complete it.

In 2026, the Tour de France will tackle this climb for the 22nd time. The TdF website says, “having been the stage for countless battles between the sport’s greatest champions, it perfectly embodies the toughness and heritage of the Tour de France.” While the pass can be tackled from multiple directions, Zwift’s version begins to the south in Allemond since that’s what the pros are riding in 2026.

A bit of Zwift trivia: When it was added to the game in May of 2026, this climb became the longest in the Portal library, in terms of completion time estimates. While Mt. Hamilton is a few kilometers longer, Col de la Croix de Fer includes an additional 300 meters of elevation!

Here’s the closest-matching IRL Strava segment: