The climb of Huez
From 740 to 1850 altitude, the climb of Alpe d’Huez measures 1091 meters in altitude in 14 kilometers. In the heart of the Romanche, Le Bourg d’Oisans kicks off the most famous climb of the Tour de France: pedaling upwards, there are a banner and a small timing station. After a few hundred meters at Pied de côte (740 meters), the road climbs up a long straight that leads to hairpin 21: as on the Stelvio, they are numbered in descending order and all dedicated to the lords of the Alps.
On the first, that is the last, there is the name of Fausto Coppi who shares the cartel with Lance Armstrong (2001) because the summit of Huez has 29 winners. Here begins the hardest stretch because beyond the Coppi hairpin there are two "rights" at 11% that never end. From turns 20 to 17, the road does not breathe in 2.5 kilometers of double digits, then the esplanade of the Garde (977 meters) and one kilometer at 7%: the hairpin bends 13 and 8 parade at regular distance on the soft slopes of Ribot , but the first Bugno sign (7) indicates an altitude of 1390 meters and, after passing the church of Saint Ferréol, you go up to ten percent.
If you have come this far and look up, you see the summit but better not think about it, because at the exit of Bugno 6 there is the maximum gradient: 14%. At the intersection of the Patte d’Oie the road divides: turn left towards the West Station entrée, towards Pantani. Three hairpin bends are missing: Marco's two and Giuseppe Guerini's number 1 which leads to a very hard ramp of 700 meters towards Place Paganon.
We are at an altitude of 1764 and there is a banner of arrival, but the Tour de France requires the last effort: a thousand meters of flamme rouge up to Avenue du Rif-Nef. It is here that "all first on the finish line of Alpe d’Huez" and the delivery of the diploma takes place: a cadeau from the tourist office with your time of ascent written on it. It will be for memory or fullness, a dream come true, the meaning of life.