Alpe d'Huez is the most famous mountain climb in the Tour De France. While the tour route varies from year to year, l'Alpe d'Huez has hosted a stage finish almost every year since 1976. The Tour de France first finished a stage on l'Alpe d'Huez in 1952. That stage was won by the Italian Fausto Coppi. The climb up Alpe d'Huez is 13.8 km at an average gradient of 8.1% with 21 hairpin bends marked with panels honoring the winners of each stage that has finished there. Having finished there for the 22nd time in 2001 the authorities have had to start again at the bottom with a double panel honoring Fausto Coppi and Lance Armstrong..
As the most legendary climb in recent Tour history, the Alpe has been the scene of chaotic crowds in the past 10 years. In 1999 Giuseppe Guerini won the stage despite being knocked off his bike by an over-enthusiastic spectator who stepped into his path to take a photograph (the photographer later sought out Guerini to apologize). The 2004 Tour De France route featured an individual time trial up Alpe d'Huez, which became a chaotic scene crowded with nearly a million fans, some of whom could not resist pushing their favorite rider toward the top. Armstrong won the stage and his time was only 1 second slower than the official record set by the late Marco Pantani of 37 minutes, 35 seconds.
Unfortunately this stage is not on the Tour this year. Usually after the descent from Galibier the riders climb Alpe D'huez, but this year they veer their way into Briancon for the finish.
4 comments:
Looks like it would be such a breathtaking trek through the mountains. Of course, this is the last thing on these competitors minds but, nevertheless, such a beautiful environment.
I have always wanted to get into cross-country cycling but I never got around to dropping 1K on the Trek road bike I want.
I think my heart just gave out by looking at that.
Dude, it's awesome to watch them climb this. I watched the time trial one and it was SO intense! The great thing is all the people cheering, and they are literally a foot away from you. There are times when the rider can't even see the road, but the peoople always move at just the right instant. I'll check when the next mountain stages are. The Tour is shown on Vs. ( used to be Outdoor Life Network) every morning at 7:30 CDT with re-runs all day long. You can also watch CBS on Sunday afternoon, as they'll have some coverage as well.
And, again, thanks to you all for reading.
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