The must-do stage of the Tour de France
Grand classic of the Tour de France, this is THE climb to do at least once in your life! It was in 1952 that the Tour de France first stopped off at Alpe d’Huez. The legendary road, painted with numerous messages of encouragement, has welcomed this great race more than thirty times… and it’s not over yet! The route includes 21 bends that punctuate the effort all the way to the summit. Signs numbered in descending order indicate the altitude at each hairpin; in the past, these markers counted down the bends to serve as landmarks for the snowploughs as they climbed to the resort. Today, each stage winner has his or her name associated with one of the 21 hairpins.
Plusieurs cyclistes pédalent dans la montée des 21 virages de l'Alpe d'Huez In a few figures…
- 21 bends
- 1120 m ascent from Bourg d’Oisans
- 1860 m altitude at the finish at Alpe d’Huez
- 14 km to cover
- 8% average gradient
- 14% maximum incline
- 37’35”, the record time for the climb (achieved by Marco Pantani in 1997 with an average speed of 23.08km/h!)
The ascent of the mythical 21 bends
This winding road offers exceptional views of the Grandes Rousses massif, villages clinging to the mountains such as Villard-Reculas and Auris-en-Oisans, and of course a breathtaking panorama of the Romanche valley. But to access this spectacular landscape, you’ll need to hold on tight to your handlebars: between the hairpins, the gradients oscillate between 8 and 9%! With the exception of one bend that requires a restart, the others are followed by a flat, and what a reward it is to reach the last hairpin… Whether you’re a racing cyclist, a touring cyclist or a mountain bike enthusiast: the fortress of the Oisans is just waiting for you and your two wheels! The bet’s on when you cross the finish line!
