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Isère · Oisans · Hors Catégorie

Alpe d'Huez

Bourg-d'Oisans → Resort · 21 legendary bends

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Technical data
The technical sheet
1 850 m
Altitude
Alpe d'Huez resort
13.6 km
Distance
Depuis Bourg-d'Oisans
1 128 m
Elevation gain
The greatest of the Alps
8.3 %
Avg. gradient
Max 14% · Hairpin 7
-8 °C
Min. temp
Possible in winter
HC
Difficulty
Hors Catégorie
Elevation profile
Bourg-d'Oisans → Station
Distance -
Altitude -
Local gradient -
725m → 1 850m Total distance
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< 3% 3–5% 5–7% 7–9% 9–11% 11–13% > 13%
Alpe d'Huez · Isère · Oisans
History & Legend
The 21 Legendary Bends

Alpe d'Huez entered Tour de France history on 4 July 1952. Fausto Coppi won the very first stage on this brand-new climb. Since then, the 21 bends numbered in reverse, from 21 at the bottom to 1 at the top, have become world cycling's roll of honour. Each bend bears the name of a stage winner.

Over 13.6 km, the road climbs 1,128 metres, with an average gradient of 8.3%. Bend no. 7 is the most feared: 14% for several hundred metres, at mid-climb, when the legs begin to burn. Alpe d'Huez has hosted the Tour 30 times, more than any other Alpine summit.

The climb holds an outright record set by Marco Pantani in 1997: 37 minutes 35 seconds. A performance considered humanly improbable today. Around 90,000 cyclists climb the Alpe each year, making it the most popular ascent in the Alps.

Tour 1952
Fausto Coppi
First winner on Alpe d'Huez, at the very first finish on this summit. The Campionissimo laid down the law on his first attempt.
Tour 1997
Marco Pantani
Climb record in 37'35". An extraordinary performance still debated today. The Pirate literally flew up the 21 bends.
Tour 2013
Christophe Riblon
A Frenchman's solo win after a long breakaway. One of the last great home victories on the Alpe.
Tour 2022
Jonas Vingegaard
A devastating attack in the final kilometres, dropping Pogačar. The Dane confirmed his dominance of that Tour.
The Anecdote

In 1986, Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond held hands as they crossed the finish line together at the summit of Alpe d'Huez. LeMond, Hinault's teammate at La Vie Claire, had waited for his leader despite a possible lead. This act of sportsmanship became one of the most emblematic moments in Tour de France history.

Scenery & Sensations
What you will experience
The First Bends · The Wall
The first 4 kilometres from Bourg-d'Oisans are the hardest: a constant 10-11%, in full sun, with no shade. Bends 21 to 17 follow one another in an amphitheatre of cliffs. This is where the race is decided, and where most weekend riders give up.
The Villages and the Resort
From bend 10, the first hamlets appear: La Garde, La Sarenne, Huez-en-Oisans. The gradient eases slightly. You glimpse the resort from afar, it always seems too high. Arriving at the Alpe d'Huez resort, at 1,860 m, facing the Écrins, is a moment of striking beauty.
Alpe d'Huez · Isère · Oisans
Practical tips
Before you go
Best time
Start at 7-8am in summer. The first bends are in full sun all morning. In the afternoon, heat reflected off the cliffs is intense. June and September offer the best conditions.
The hidden trap
The first 4 kilometres, bends 21 to 17. Most riders set off too fast, carried away by the atmosphere. 10-11% from the start wrecks the legs for the rest of the climb.
Refuelling
Fountain at Bourg-d'Oisans at the start. No reliable water point before La Garde (km 8). Bar at Huez (km 10). The resort is well stocked. Carry at least 2 bottles.
Weather & conditions
The Oisans is a storm corridor in summer afternoons. Storms form quickly over the Écrins. Watching the forecast is essential. In a storm, the descent on wet roads is dangerous.
Access & parking
Large free car park in Bourg-d'Oisans, at the official start. The town is 60 km from Grenoble via the N85. In season, set off early, the car park fills from 9am at weekends.
The MyKollectOr terminal
The MyKollectOr marker stands in Bourg-d'Oisans, at the foot of the 21 bends. Scan it before you set off, your feat is recorded and your medal unlocked when you reach the resort.

Your feat engraved in metal

13.6 km, 1,128 m of climbing, 21 legendary bends. Your name on the Alpe d'Huez medal.

Order the medal Download the GPX