Alpe d'Huez
Super Steep Start!
15.2 kms; 1,150 metres ascent; Start:
Bourg d'Oisans
18.7 kms 1,390 metres ascent to Lac Besson
Last Climbed: July 2006
Driving Directions
GPX Files
View in Google Earth
Map of Route
The legendary 21 Hairpins of Alpe d'Huez is climbed every year by tens of thousands of amateur cyclists. I had goose bumps the first time I climbed this biking Mecca. Alpe d'Huez is often jokingly called the highest point in the Netherlands because so many Dutch riders have won here in the Tour de France. And every time I have been here there are cheerful and fit Dutch cyclists everywhere.
In 2004 the Tour celebrated its 24th climb of Alpe d'Huez with its first Contre-le-Montre (time trial) won by Lance Armstrong. But only Armstrong and the Fausto Coppi have won a stage at Alpe d'Huez and the tour de France in the same year. Tip for your first time: The first two kilometres are brutal. Make sure to get a few warm-up kilometres. And don't let the excitement make you start out to hard. Blog Entry - April, 2005 - Doreen and I climbed perhaps the most famous climb in biking - Alpe d’Huez (in the French Alps). Amazing! And KUDO’s to Doreen for successfully climbing this giant.This climb has featured in so many epic races in the Tour de France and people travel from all over the world for the honour to suffer up it’s STEEP slopes. The climb is only about 13km. It has 21 hair pin turns each numbered starting at 21 near the bottom and turn 1 near the top. It gives one intermediate goals.
Up top is a ski-resort that was closed for the off season and we stayed in the only open hotel. After a great breakfast we cannonned down to the bottom to the town of Bourg d’Oisans, rode a couple of KMs to stretch the legs and we wished each other luck.
The 1st two KMs are two of the three hardest and it’s discouraging! Luckily, the first few turns come quick so as we did the mental countdown from 21 we felt we were making progress. As the % grade gets a little better and I had warmed up, I reminded myself to TRY and enjoy the ride and the view - and what great views. At the top, I stopped at a cafe and chatted with a group of Dutch riders - all as excited as I was - it’s hard to describe the excitement of climbing this mountain. Soon after an Englishman I had passed en route finished and I convinced him to join me for a further 5 kilometers up to tiny alpine Lake Besson - well worth the ride.
By the time we were at the Lake, Doreen had finished - so the three of us has a nice lunch at the only open bar. Then somehow, Doreen and I found the energy to follow a tiny Alpine road up the the Col de Sarenne - a remote little mountain pass.
Wow, we were excited and exhausted when we stumbled back to the hotel. A great day.
