1090 hm
Ascent
13.8 km
Distance Ascent
14.8 %
max. gradient
7.9 %
ø gradient
21 hairpins. Numbered backwards. Each one carries the name of a Tour stage winner. Riding Alpe d’Huez means riding through cycling history.
The Route
The climb starts in Bourg-d’Oisans at 720 metres. 13.8 kilometres, 1,090 metres of elevation gain, 8.1% average gradient. The first hairpins hit the hardest: between turns 21 and 16, the gradient sits at a relentless 10-13%. This is where you find out what kind of day you’re having.
From hairpin 15, the gradient settles around 7-8%. You find your rhythm. The switchbacks wind through open forest, with occasional views dropping into the valley below. The turns are wide, well-paved, never tight.
The final 3 kilometres ease off to 5-6%. The ski station appears, the finish is close. The finish arch often still stands from the last race. Reaching the top here means something. Not the hardest climb in the Alps. But the most famous one.
History and Pro Cycling
In 1952, Fausto Coppi won the first mountain-top finish at Alpe d’Huez. Then nothing happened for 24 years. The Tour returned in 1976, and the climb has been a fixture ever since. The list of winners reads like a who’s who of cycling: Hinault, Pantani, Armstrong, Froome.
Legendary: Pantani’s 1997 victory in 36 minutes and 50 seconds. Still one of the fastest ascents of all time. And the Dutch fans who, since the 80s, have turned “Dutch Corner” at hairpin 7 into an orange-glowing madhouse.
Tips for Cyclists
Best time: June or September. In July and August the mountain is overrun. Tourist cars, campervans, fans blocking the road. Start before 7am, and you’ll have the hairpins almost to yourself.
Water is available in Bourg-d’Oisans before the start and at the top in the station. Nothing in between. Bring two bottles. If you want to extend the ride: from the top you can continue to the Col de Sarenne (6 km, easy), a fantastic loop back into the valley.
My Experience
Alpe d’Huez: a legend. Obviously we had to ride it during our trip to the French High Alps, no matter what reputation preceded the mountain. It was a box-ticking exercise, and honestly, that’s what it felt like. Not a highlight, but still satisfying when you reach the top. A demanding climb for sure, especially in the July midday sun.
