Cycling’s most famous hill

Alpe d’huez is here so you’ll probably want to ride it…

Alpe d’huez. World debut 1952. First rider over: Fausto Coppi, 45min 22sec. Twenty-one infamous bends, 32 immortal appearances and counting at the Tour. Featured twice in back-toback stages in 1979 and climbed twice in one stage in 2013. Fastest rider over (notwithstanding certain kinds of ‘help’ and contentions over the climb’s true length): Marco Pantani, 36min 50sec. However you cut it, this is one legendary climb, and any rider about to attempt it can expect the following: the start is at the EDF building outside Bourg d’oisans, the finish at the main car park in Alpe d’huez town. The first six hairpins are considered the hardest, although this is actually a pretty consistent climb with few surprises – even in the apexes of switchbacks the gradient rarely troubles 15%. It’s also busy and the views are by no means the best in the area. Still, this climb has the feel of greatness, and is certainly one for the scrapbook.