Every year I marvel at the level of fitness by the Tour de France cyclists in not just riding, but racing, up extraordinary heights. The toughest mountain stage of a tour may have 3 climbs each with over 1000m elevation gain! Here are some of the better-known tough climbs (classfied HC, or beyond categorisation) with elevation gains and average gradients.
Alpe d’Huez – 1150 metres @ 7.6% average
Col du Tourmalet – 1395 metres @ 7.5% average (west side), 1250 metres @ 7.3% (east side)
Mont Ventoux – 1620 metres @ 7.1% average
Col du Galibier – 1580 metres @ 6.2% average
Col de la Madeleine – 1580 metres @ 6.2% average
Col de la Croix-de-Fer – 1520 metres @ 5.1% average
Col d’ Izoard – 1200m @ 5.7% average (south side), 1500m @ 5% average (north side)
Hautacam – 1170m @ 6.8% average
Col d’ Aubisque – 1225 metres @ 4.2% average
Here are some of the toughest Tour de France stages in recent years:
Stage 17, 2010 – finish up the Col du Tourmalet
Stage 17, 2009 – Col de la Colombière via Col de Romme
Stage 17, 2008 – up Col du Galibier, Col de la Croix de Fer, with the finish up Alpe d’Huez.
- http://www.podiumcafe.com/2010/6/29/1543466/tour-de-france-lets-rank-the-climbs
- http://www.climbbybike.com
