Key Details
- Category: HC
- Length: 16.3 km (10.1 miles)
- Elevation Gain: 902 m (2,959‘)
- Average Gradient: 5.5%
- Watopia Climb Segment
- Watopia Descent Segment
- France Climb Segment
- France Descent Segment
- 5 W/kg: 41 minutes
- 4 W/kg: 49 minutes
- 3 W/kg: 63 minutes
- 2 W/kg: 90 minutes
Strava Segments
Time Estimates
Perched high above the Côte d’Azur in southeast France, the Col de la Madone has never appeared in the Tour de France. But that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a global icon thanks to numerous professionals (including, famously, one Mr. L. Armstrong) who have frequented its slopes to test their form against the clock. Indeed, it is one of the most well-known “pro” climbs on the planet, along with Rocacorba and Sa Calobra.
The climb begins in Menton, the last town on the French Riviera before entering Italy. With a peak elevation of 927 meters above sea level, it’s a good half-hour time trial if you’re in world-class shape.
Here’s an IRL segment close to Zwift’s (although Zwift’s appears to start earlier):
Some legends with the Madone:
https://www.strava.com/segments/2363
https://www.strava.com/segments/11615637?filter=overall
it is 0% in Italy ; 100% in France
….OK?
You misunderstood the description. It says Menton is “the last town on the French Riviera before entering Italy” – but that does not mean that this climb goes into Italy.
Since the last update I haven’t been unless to select the climbers portal climbs from the route selection for workouts? Is this an issue that is likely to be remedied? I
I never even tried doing that, so I’m not sure if it was possible before. But yeah, it doesn’t seem to be possible now.
Hi Andy. i think if you choose climbers portal climb from the route selection, click start ride to get on the route then before starting to ride click menu then workouts. Choose workout and click the workout button it takes you back to the ride start point with the workout live and off you go. hope that works for you it did for me.
Is this strava working?
There’s no results?
Can I ride it in France?
No results because it hasn’t been ridable yet. Should be on the 16th: https://zwiftinsider.com/climb-portal-schedule/
weird, I only had the Madone on Monday and Tuesday but I didn’t feel up to an hour effort. No other portal was available. Today it has disappeared.
Thanks for the update.
How and when can I access it?
Oct 17th, Zwift says… by going to the climb portal in Watopia.
Today climb portal the climb available is crown road, the madone where is?
Scroll to the bottom of the homepage – you’ll see them both available there under “Just Ride”.
Looks like Zwift bork’d this one again. Not available in the Climb Portal. Guess they wanted the recent update more which meant you could no longer 2XP by starting a Tour of Watopia route and simply turning off the route. Now it only gives the 2XP if you stay on the designated route. Was really looking forward to the Madone 🙁
Think you should try again. I rode it 3 hours ago.
I rode it this afternoon. Had been looking very much forward to this climb as I had ridden it many many times many many years ago 🙁 It didn’t disappoint. Eric’s estimates for w/kg times appears pretty accurate. I completed it in 57min at 3.4 w/kg.
Why is a Strava France Descent Segment missing?
Apologies – it’s there now.
Wow, no apologies needed offcourse, you fixed that fast @Eric Schlange, thx!
KOM! 😉👍
This was a seriously challenging climb.