The unmissable stage of the Tour de France
A classic stage of the Tour de France, this is THE climb you simply must tackle at least once in your lifetime! The Tour de France first stopped off at Alpe d’Huez in 1952. The legendary road, covered in countless messages of encouragement, has hosted this great race more than thirty times… and there’s more to come! The route features 21 hairpin bends that punctuate the climb to the summit. Signs numbered in descending order indicate the altitude at each bend; previously, these markers counted the bends to serve as reference points for snowploughs as they made their way up to the resort. Today, each stage winner has their name associated with one of the 21 hairpin bends.
Montée des 21 virages de l'Alpe d'Huez
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In figures…
- 21 bends
- 1,120 m of elevation gain from Bourg d’Oisans
- 1,860 m altitude at the finish line in Alpe d’Huez
- 14 km to cover
- 8 per cent average gradient
- 14% maximum gradient
- 37’35’’, the record time for the climb (set by Marco Pantani in 1997 at an average speed of 23.08 km/h!)
The climb up the legendary 21 bends
This winding road offers exceptional views of the Grandes Rousses massif, villages clinging to the mountainside such as Villard-Reculas and Auris-en-Oisans, and of course a breathtaking panorama of the Romanche Valley. But to reach this spectacular scenery, hold on tight to your handlebars: between the hairpin bends, the gradients range from 8 to 9 per cent! Apart from one bend that requires a burst of speed, the others are followed by a flat section – and what a reward it is to reach the final hairpin… Whether you’re a competitive cyclist, a cycle tourist or an e-bike enthusiast: the Oisans fortress is waiting just for you and your bike! It’s all worth it once you cross the finish line!
