The Tour de France: A Double Ascent of Alpe d'Huez

Deconstructing one of the Tour's most iconic stages.

Alpe d'Huez has been the scene of some of the greatest climbing battles in Tour de France history. Coming at the end of a stage only makes the climb that much more grueling. And this year there is a new wrinkle: the riders have to climb it twice, separated by a fast and tricky descent. Michael Barry, a retired pro cyclist from Canada, breaks down this stage.

Stage Start: A Fast-Paced Climb

The start is straight uphill toward the Col de Manse mountain pass, a climb of more than 1,500 feet. But the pace will be fast: many riders want to be part of the breakaway for a chance at a stage victory or to collect points for the sprint and the mountain competitions. The teams at the top of the overall standings will try to control the stage early on. If the breakaway contains riders who are in contention for the yellow jersey, the top teams will join the break and force the contenders back to the pack.

Chasing the Breakaway

If the breakaway group does not include contenders, the peloton will let it go, and a gap of 10 or more minutes can be created. The breakaway is likely to happen at any point before the peloton reaches Valbonnais. Once the breakaway has been established, those remaining in the peloton will work together to close the gap. By the time they reach the descent of the Col d'Ornon, the top contenders are likely to have positioned themselves near the front.

Alpe d'Huez: Climb, Descend, Climb

It is critical to be near the front for the climb up Alpe d'Huez because the many switchbacks can cause gaps in the group. If the riders become separated from the front, it will be difficult to make up that distance. During the descent off the Col de Sarrene, the riders will be going full speed, trying to maintain or gain position for the final climb. These speeds can make this descent a dangerous one: the riders are tired and can make mistakes; the road is narrow and lacks guardrails. On the final climb - a second trip up Alpe d'Huez - the top teams will increase the speed, decimating the peloton until only the strongest climbers remain. Then they will attack one another, racing for the stage win and trying to gain time in the overall race.