L'Alpe d'Huez is a truly iconic climb in cycling. Located in the French Alpes with the village Bourg D'Oisans at its foot, Alpe d'Huez rises with it's famous 21 bends winding their way to the summit. In the 100th edition of the Tour de France, held in 2013, the L'Alpe d'Huez was climbed twice, in the same stage. One of the most famous moments in Tour de France history, amidst team politics and controversy, happened at the summit of the Alpe D'Huez summit finish, on stage 18 of the 1986 Tour de France, where Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault attempted to cross the line together linking hands in victory. Lemond went on to win the Tour that year.
Was it a show of La Vie Claire team unity after the prior hostilities in the team or was it a PR stunt orchestrated by team owner and entrepreneur, Bernard Tapie?
Each of the 21 bends is marked by a sign noting a professional rider. L'Alpe d'Huez also houses dutch corner which, during every Tour de France, becomes a party with huge numbers of Dutch fans congregating at bend 7 of the 21 on the road to the summit.
The fastest ascent of Alpe D'Huez, 37mins 35secs, was recorded by Marco Pantani in 1997.
Country: FRANCE
Mountain range: French Alpes
Distance: 13.2km
Elev Gain: 1127m
Avg Grade: 8%
Max Grade: 13%
Climb cat: HC
Min Elevation: 769 m
Max Elevation: 1892 m
Suggested Airport: Lyon–Saint-Exupéry
Suggested Airport: Grenoble Alpes Isère
Suggested Train Station: Gare de Grenoble
