21 HC climbs the Tour should (re)visit

[roundabout]

Croisette/Mont Saleve

probably not HC

Parquetout

again, probably not HC

Glieres

don't even need to pave the last bit for the extra awesomeness. Again, don't know if it's HC.

 

[Linkinito]

Here we go for climb #2!

#2: Col de la Lusette (Gard)
The successor to the Puy de Dôme

On September 29, 2010, the Massif Central lost its one and only HC climb: the legendary Puy de Dôme. The famous french volcano near the city of Clermont-Ferrand would officially, never again, be climbed by the Tour de France. The main reason being the construction of a rack railway on the road going to the summit, making the actual road way too narrow to let the race pass, even for a time trial.

In 35 years, the Puy was climbed 13 times by the Tour and many great racers have conquered it, including Fausto Coppi, Federico Bahamontès, Luis Ocana, or Joop Zoetemelk. But now, and even if in those 13 climbs, the Puy was categorized as HC only twice, the Massif Central is now orphan of an HC climb. But that would be forgetting some road, going up the Cévennes, in the south of the Massif.

The Cévennes mountains are not really known by the Tour de France. Even if ASO likes to stop in Mende, and its now famous Côte de la Croix-Neuve, most of the times, the Cévennes are sacrified to let the sprinters win a flat stage between Alps and Pyrénées, going through the Languedoc. But in its heart resides a monster that should definitely be awaken.

To locate it, just trace a straight line from Mende to Montpellier, then another from Millau to Alès. The Col de la Lusette (or Luzette) is very close to the intersection. And its profile is quite surprising for a Massif Central climb...

Top: 1351 m
Length: 17 km
Ascent: 1116 m
Average gradient: 6.6 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 107

Some people can argue this climb isn't high enough to be HC, or not steep enough. As a proof, the Cormet de Roselend (in the Alps) is 1C, despite being 3 km longer, 600 meters higher, and having roughly the same steepness. But well, we must remember we're in a completely different chain of mountains. It's lower, definitely not steeper, and if only one climb could be rated HC in these mountains, that would definitely be the Col de la Lusette. The Tour de France never went on its roads. However, the now-defunct Grand Prix du Midi Libre used to climb it, and during the 80s, even Bernard Hinault was surprised by this climb, having to put his feet down the road.

The climb is very irregular, and starts with a bang with a 10 % long portion during 2 km. Perfect to make a first selection, before coming back to an easier section. Then, like a crescendo, the ascent goes higher and higher in difficulty, the last kilometers coming close to 11 % average gradient, with some parts at 15 %, and some parts being a little bit flatter. Then, brutally, the harshness stops with the 2 final kilometers in false flat before actually reaching the Col. If we remove the start and the summit, we have a grueling 14 km at 7.3 %.

I must say the profile doesn't do much justice to this climb, taking only the average gradient for each kilometer. But this climb has many irregularities, some real steep parts, and that's why you don't see the same profile on every website. Also, some parts are narrow (just enough to let the race pass, like Péguère last year), and the road surfacing isn't good to get your effort back.

This climb is definitely the hardest one you can find in the whole Massif Central. And you know what's the best? It is very close to a possible finish. The Mont Aigoual observatory is located a dozen kilometers to the north of the Col de la Lusette. After a short descent and flat part, there's a rather easy climb (6.4 km @ 5 %) that leads to the Mont Aigoual observatory, topping at 1565 meters. The Tour went near it in 1987, but climbing it by one of its easiest sides (26 km @ 3.3 % only!), and only like a pass.

The combo Lusette-Aigoual should definitely be considered as a future stage in the Tour de France, as an alternative to Mende. Featuring a very nice scenery all over the way up, the Lusette is a very demanding climb in a surprising place.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The Lusette-Aigoual double was one of my main stages for the Alps/Pyrenées-less Tour. Linking it to tough predecessors may be hard however without doing some kind of loop involving the Col de L'Esperou or Col du Minier. I think I went Aires-Vieilles (which includes part of the Lusette climb, a bit like doing Cuchu Puercu instead of Cobertoria)-L'Esperou-Lusette-Aigoual.

Maybe I ought to resurrect that fantasy Tour.

 

[trevim]

Col de la Bonette please.

 

[Linkinito]

Col de la Bonette please.

Nope. Last time in the Tour in 2008.

 

[valentius borealis]

Larrau - when was it climbed the France side?

It was climbed early in the stage which finished on the Col d'Aubisque in 2007. Prior to that, it was climbed in the stage to Pamplona in 1996.

 

[Linkinito]

It was climbed early in the stage which finished on the Col d'Aubisque in 2007. Prior to that, it was climbed in the stage to Pamplona in 1996.

Yep, and it's a pretty hard climb. Actually it's the climb to Erroymendi pass which is hard, the Port de Larrau being accessed after 3 flat kilometers before a final 1.5 km @ 11 %. But being climbed since 1996 makes it ineligible.

 

[Netserk]

Both times from the French side.

 

[Netserk]

Nope. Last time in the Tour in 2008.

But what about the northern side? The last time that was ridden was in 1993.

So starting from today, and each day until the start of this 100th Tour de France, I'll present here a climb, which would be rated HC by today's standards, that has:
- Never been ridden by the Tour de France
- Been ridden by the Tour, but long ago (at least 20 years)
- Another side of a known climb.

 

[profff]

granon
a great MTF.

 

[Netserk]

Would've suggested Plateau des Saix if it weren't for this:

Considered it. But the fact is MTF on stations are highly dependent of the will of these stations to be in the Tour de France. That's why I only kept one, and it's not Val Thorens. It's not like passes which can be taken without needing a candidature.

 

[rghysens]

Pic de Beillurti, Col de l'Arpettaz, Signal de Bisanne, Col Luitel, Col de la Moissière, Grand Ballon,...

 

[Ferminal]

It was climbed early in the stage which finished on the Col d'Aubisque in 2007. Prior to that, it was climbed in the stage to Pamplona in 1996.

Ugh, memory fail. Knew they climbed it that day but thought they came from Spain straight to MB. Good stage really, given that that side of MB is nasty. They had a fair bit of accumulated climbing, and was a good 6 hours+. A quick look says there hasn't been a longer (in time) mountain stage in the Tour since? Makes the speed they went up Aubisque all the more remarkable.

 

[leftover pie]

great thread, will read again!

(at least another 19 times)

it's like an advent calendar/top of the pops countdown all rolled into one.



i hope superbagneres makes it in the top 20

 

[Linkinito]

#3: Mont du Chat (Savoie)
The French Mortirolo

"Do not awake a sleeping cat". It's a translation of a french proverb, saying that we shouldn't approach a source of danger if we are still far away. And it seems the Tour de France takes this proverb a little bit too seriously. Despite trying to search for new climbs to include in their routes, they tend to forget some climbs they found in the past, just because they didn't make the legend, or maybe simply because they were too harsh.

Standing next to the lac du Bourget, the Mont du Chat (literally Cat's Mountain) watches over the city of Aix-les-Bains, and faces the Mont Revard, which will be climbed in the final mountain stage of the Tour de France this year. But unlike its eastern counterpart, the mount is waiting for 40 years to see the peloton coming back on its slopes.

Because the Tour went to the Mont in 1974, for its first and only time. It was the final climb of a stage ending in Aix-les-Bains. If Gonzalo Aja conquered the climb first, something must be noted: the best cyclist of all time, Eddy Merckx, had a strong breakdown on the Mont. However, he still managed to win the stage, thanks to his incredible descending skills.

His breakdown could be explained by one thing: the incredible steepness of the climb. The Tour climbed it from the west side in 1974, but both sides are actually incredibly hard. The french magazine Le Cycle, considered on one of its issues, the Mont du Chat as the toughest paved climb in France. And you know what? 40 years ago, it was just a mere 2nd category climb. The HC classification didn't exist at the time, and the 1st category was mostly awarded to the highest mountains over 2000 meters high.

Let's look at the two sides of this climb, because they definitely are both worth the ride.
Top: 1504 m
West side from Yenne
Length: 17 km
Ascent: 1264 m
Average gradient: 7.4 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 131
East side from Le Bourget-du-Lac
Length: 14.3 km
Ascent: 1266 m
Average gradient: 8.9 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 149

If one word could describe this climb, if would be "torture". Each side has its particularity: the western side is in two distinct parts, while the eastern side just goes up and up with a near-perfect regularity. In both cases, the ramps goes up to 14 %, and there's no way to take a good breath by expecting a flat part: these climbs are purely relentless.

The west side is a bit special. If from Yenne, the climb is 17 km long and averages at 7.4 %, the real deal starts from the village of Meyrieux-Trouet. From here, and until the summit, it's the hardest road you'll ever find in France (at least until someone discovers something even harder...): 8 kilometers averaging 10.9 %. Simply brutal, and even the greatest climbers could have a hard day on these slopes.

The eastern side is probably even harder than the eastern side. If we except the first two kilometers, the climb is 12.4 km long at 9.7 % average gradient. Also, the east side has a trick up its sleeve: it goes through the forest in long straight lines, with little turns. And each hairpin turn, which could give a little bit of fresh air for non-climbers, is farther away than the last one.

By looking at these profiles, these gradients and these slopes, it reminded me that it was pretty close to the Mortirolo. That's why I qualified it as the "French Mortirolo". 40 years ago, the Tour just went here, and forgot what happened. They didn't remember the steepness of the road. But recently, they're coming back around: Semnoz, Mont Revard, Grand Colombier... They're discovering the treasures of the region. During 40 years, the cat sleeps, with its very sharp claws. It might be a matter of time before the Tour finally wakes it up... And unleashes the beast on the maillot jaune.

 

[gregrowlerson]

A great write up. The Mont Du Chat is most definitely a climb that ought to be more spoken about.

 

[barmaher]

This is a fantastic thread, thanks very much. I had a look at the descent from Col du Coq down the other side to Saint-Pierre de Chartreuse . Would be a nice finish after such a tough climb.

 

[Linkinito]

#4: Col du Granon (Hautes-Alpes)
The nightmare of Hinault

The city of Briançon is surrounded with legendary climbs. At its south, the great Izoard (2360 m) and its Casse Déserte, made the legend of the Tour. At its east, the famous Col de Montgenèvre (1850 m), opening the doors to Italy, and many times being the launch ramp for a finale towards Sestriere. And at its north-east relies one of the greatest climbs in France, in Europe and in the world, the mighty Col du Galibier (2645 m). But there's actually a fourth climb on the road to the Galibier from Briançon (and no, it's not the Lautaret, which tops at 2058 m).

In 1986, the Tour de France tried an all-new mountain summit finish, in a rather unknown place: the col du Granon. Culminating at 2413 meters high, it became the highest summit finish ever in the Tour de France, dethroning the Tourmalet finish in 1974. This record would stand for 25 years, before the Granon's neighbor, the Galibier, took its place in 2011 hosting a stage finish 232 meters higher. Like a birthday present to celebrate the centenary of the Galibier on the Tour.

Let's go back in '86. On this day, the peloton had to cross three times the 2000 meters line: starting from Gap, they had to climb the Col de Vars, then the Col d'Izoard, then finishing on the Col du Granon, the winter sports station of Serre-Chevalier financing the finish (like the Galibier finish in 2011). A pretty nice stage. But on the slopes of the Granon, happened one of the worst moments of a national hero.

Bernard Hinault said one day "as long as I breathe, I attack". It seems on this July 20, 1986, his lungs couldn't breath the air anymore. At the start of the climb, he was trailing 1 minute and 20 seconds behind his rival, Greg LeMond, having attacked in the Izoard. The Granon climb will completely crush him, and he will lose over 3 minutes to the american. He'll later state "I was crying on my bike, like if my blood was carrying thorns along". This was the very last day Bernard Hinault wore the yellow jersey. And this was also the very last day the Granon appeared in the Tour de France.

Let's take a look at the profile of this climb that made Hinault fail.
Top: 2413 m
Length: 11.5 km
Ascent: 1053 m
Average gradient: 9.2 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 140

Despite being a pass, only one side is paved, the other one staying as a dirt track. This is the paved side, and the climb is simply monstrous. To push it simply, it's kinda like the Mont du Chat (east side), but a thousand meters higher. The lack of oxygen is a real test to the organisms and the altitude coupled to a so high degree of steepness does not make the task easier.

The slopes are also very regular, oscillating between 8 and 10.5 % average gradient, and the long straight lines are a real hit to the mind. The whole body is put to the challenge, until the very end with a final kilometer easier than every other on this climb. Even though the climb is short (11.5 km), it could feel neverending for the riders who don't like to climb.

It's a bit strange that the Granon, despite being located between the legendaries Galibier and Izoard, has been completely ignored by the Tour since. There might be two reasons to this: the first one is because the Col du Granon isn't paved on its two sides, and might never be. That means only a mountain top finish is possible on the pass, and it only depends on the will of the station of Serre-Chevalier to let the race go up to it another time. And we should not forget the logistics that could be a problem nowadays, as descending the pass on the other side isn't really safe for most vehicles of the "caravane".

Another reason, probably closer to the rumor, might be that Hinault, following that terrible day in 1986, hates so much this climb he doesn't want ASO to put it again in the Tour. As he now working for the Tour, his voice is still heard. But this is probably more of a story than a real fact.

The Col du Granon is like the Mont du Chat, a climbed-once-and-forgotten climb. It's located in a strategic position, deep beneath the alps. A good approach from the south was made with the Vars-Izoard combo in 1986. From the north, an Iseran-Galibier-Granon trio would be pretty epic, with three climbs approaching 2500 meters high. The Granon nowadays would make an awesome stage finish. Some amateur races like the Défi du Granon (Granon Challenge) or the Haute Route did the experience with great success. ASO definitely needs to come back.

And sorry for being late today. ^^

 

[McLovin]

I run the first km of it one night (didn't have the bike), and believe me, even downhill my legs hurt because of the force I needed to slow down.

 

[icefire]

Granon couldn't be missing in this list. Although to be fair to the actual facts, Hinault was dropped climbing the Izoard when Zimmermann accelerated and left everyone but Lemond, who just went wheelsucking to the finish line.

 

[profff]

i did twice the defy du granon
definitely a challenging climb.
no rest. all the time you have to push hard.
it will be a great stage finish, worth of giro di italia,it is too hard for the tour

there is probably no room enough at the top for assembling all the stuff the tour needs for a stage finish.
that is the only problem.

that will be the best finish for a tour stage , specially coming from the south ( var-izoard ) or coming from italy ( agnello-izoard)

 

[Parrulo]

This looks like a proper climb!!!

How much flat between climbs would we have with any of those combos? Iseran-Galibier-Granon, var-izoard- Granon or agnello-izoard-Granon?

 

[Linkinito]

This looks like a proper climb!!!

How much flat between climbs would we have with any of those combos? Iseran-Galibier-Granon, var-izoard- Granon or agnello-izoard-Granon?

From summit of Iseran to start of Télégraphe = 13 km of descent then around 60 km of flat and small descents.
From summit of Galibier to start of Granon = 28 km of descent (the last 11 being nearly flat).

From summit of Vars to start of Izoard = 19 km of descent, then 15 km of false flats.
From summit of Agnel to start of Izoard = 20 km of descent, then 10 km of false flats.
From summit of Izoard to start of Granon = 20 km of descent, then 7 km of false flats.

 

[profff]

From summit of Iseran to start of Télégraphe = 13 km of descent then around 60 km of flat and small descents.
From summit of Galibier to start of Granon = 28 km of descent (the last 11 being nearly flat).

From summit of Vars to start of Izoard = 19 km of descent, then 15 km of false flats.
From summit of Agnel to start of Izoard = 20 km of descent, then 10 km of false flats.
From summit of Izoard to start of Granon = 7 km of false flats.

sorry linkinito, it is 7km of false flats fom briancon to the start the granon.
from the summit of izoard you have to add the descent to briancon.

in the cyclosportive luc alphand i did izoard from the classic side and then granon. it is a really demanding combo with the chance of digging big time gaps.
the slopes of granon are so hard and regular that it will be a mano a mano challenge. the teams won't be a factor on granon.

i really want to outline that you have to climb 10% slopes that are over 2000mt : you really experience the lack of oxygen.

the izoard .granon cpmbo will make a really demanding stage. this enchainment is more severe than the 3 croci-3 cime di lavaredo that was done at this years giro.

such a stage will perfectly fit the colombians....

 

[Stibolino]

Definitly a very interesting climb, with the serveral possibilites to combine it with other epic mountains before.

I think this climb is too steep for the tour de france settings. I cant mind any other climb of final descent who had a similar percentage like the col du granon.

Besides the ASO is always going a very conservative way with regard to the structure of the stages, especially the mountain stages. They always use well-known climbs, maximum 1 or 2 climbs each tour they only use very raw, or for the first time. In additional these climbs receive a disadvantageous place in the stage, so that they are often not deceisive, like last year the Grand Colombier.