21 HC climbs the Tour should (re)visit

[hfer07]

Delighted with the knowledge & the graphics posted here. Please continue with this wonderful work.

The more you folks here expose those "hidden jewels"-the more we get to question ASO and their repetitive approach to their boring parcours design.

 

[Netserk]

Maybe next time we get Tignes we can have Arpettaz-Saises-Roselend.

I'd prefer Iseran-Tignes.

 

[Linkinito]

#14: Mont Ventoux from Malaucène (Vaucluse)
The eternal descent

This is a legend, a myth, and one of the greatest climbs in the world. Riders from all around the world rise to the challenge everyday, by going up to the summit of one of the most popular mountains in France and on Earth: the Mont Ventoux. A place full of history, and full of mystery. Why is it called Ventoux, in the first place? For the wind ("vent" in french) that blows hard (no pun intended) in the last few kilometers, or because "Ventoux" is an interpretation of an old dialect that says "which can be seen from far away"? Well, in the facts, both are right. But the most surprising fact is also that this mount is nearly in the middle of a vast plain. Its watching over the Rhône Valley and the cities of Carpentras and Avignon, and having on the other side the little mountains of the Baronnies. On some clear days, it's also possible to see the Mediterranean Sea from the summit.

And for the 14th climb of this dossier, the Mont Ventoux was the obvious choice. It was climbed 14 times by the Tour de France since its introduction in 1951, and in 2013, it will be the finish of the Bastille Day stage, on July 14. Interesting fact: the Ventoux was never passed on the National Day. In four occasions, the Mont saw the peloton on July 13, but never the following day. So this will be a premiere for the Ventoux, 62 years after its first appearance. And also, this stage will be very long: 242.5 kilometers. It's both the longest stage ever that included the Ventoux, and the longest Tour de France stage since 2000. And once again, it will be climbed by its legendary side: from Bédoin.

Of course, this side has it all: the difficulty, the history, the scenery. 21 kilometers averaging 7.5 %. The greatest riders have conquered the climb, like Merckx, Pantani, or Virenque, one however, lost his life on its slopes: the british Tom Simpson, who died in 1967. And the scenery is just unbelievable. Everybody knows the white rocks after the Chalet Reynard that make the Ventoux unique. Nearly no vegetation, and that's also why it's called "the bald mountain". From far away, it also seems the top of the Ventoux is always covered by snow, even in summer.

And in the shadow of this legendary side, on the north face, exists its twin (again, no pun intended). It's equally hard and long as the side from Bédoin, but it doesn't have an important thing to exist into the light of the cycling world: the legend. Of course, it's still the Ventoux. But it doesn't have all the history behind it. It doesn't have the bald summit on its side except for the last kilometer. It's just here, overshadowed by the brightness of the south side climb. And nearly every time a stage didn't used the Ventoux as the finish, the north side was used as a descent, as the climb was done from Bédoin.

In 2013, the Ventoux stage will pass through the village of Malaucène, which is the start of the north side climb. They could have started the climb here: but they decided to go even farther to Bédoin and let the legend talk. The Ventoux was only climbed twice by its north side: in 1951, for the Ventoux first introduction in the Tour (Lucien Lazaridès was the first up the mount, while Louison Bobet won the stage in Avignon), and in 1972 (Bernard Thévenet won the stage at the summit). Let's take a look at the climb profile.

Top: 1912 m
Length: 21.2 km
Ascent: 1535 m
Average gradient: 7.2 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 156

The climb is very irregular, alternating flat parts and very steep ramps, and its frequent to see some sections at 2-3 % immediately followed by 10 % sections. So it's hard for the riders to find a cruise speed, as the slopes change gradients each kilometer. The central part of the climb is the hardest, with 4000 meters averaging 10 % with 13 % ramps. Then the Mont Serein section is quite easier, before arriving to the final part of 6 kilometers at 8.1 %. The Mont Serein station is like the Chalet Reynard in the south side, and a stage in Paris-Nice even had its finish at the Mont Serein. However, do not expect seeing some white rocks before km 19: as this side is much more covered by forests and vegetation, you are better sheltered against the wind and the sun, which in summer, can still hit strong even at 1500 meters of altitude.

This is, of course, also HC-worthy. But that's kinda logic as this side has nearly an equal length and gradient as the Bédoin side. Some people claim that the Malaucène side is harder than Bédoin just because it's more irregular and the riders has to frequently change the gear speed. I'd say both are equally difficult, despite their quite different profiles. The Ventoux is one of the hardest climbs in France alongside the col du Galibier, the col de la Madeleine, and the Mont du Chat. But the Tour should definitely revisit the Malaucène side, and put aside the legend that shines over Bédoin and the Chalet Reynard. Sportively, there wouldn't be much of a difference. For the eyes, however, it seems ASO has its preference.

 

[Leonardus]

Not sure if the Malaucene side of the Mont Ventoux should have been included in this list. It's the same mountain and, as already pointed out, both sides have the same lenght and average gradient. The only difference is the historic perspective and so they keep doing the climb from Bedoin.
This is one of the most famous mountains of the TdF and there is not much still to discover on this mountain. Much more interesting and relatively unknown climbs have already been mentioned in this topic and this climb doesn't really fit in here.

 

[Netserk]

I would like to see Entre-deux-Eaux. Can both be linked with Cenis and Iseran.

 

[Linkinito]

I would like to see Entre-deux-Eaux. Can both be linked with Cenis and Iseran.

Problems with it are:
- Place at the summit is very limited (and the road isn't probably paved up to it)
- It's in the heart of a National Park (Vanoise), where the access to motor vehicles is forbidden.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Not sure if the Malaucene side of the Mont Ventoux should have been included in this list. It's the same mountain and, as already pointed out, both sides have the same lenght and average gradient. The only difference is the historic perspective and so they keep doing the climb from Bedoin.
This is one of the most famous mountains of the TdF and there is not much still to discover on this mountain. Much more interesting and relatively unknown climbs have already been mentioned in this topic and this climb doesn't really fit in here.

if you look at the profile you'll see it's a very different climb, despite having roughly the same length and gradient as the other more famous side. Whether a climb is regular or not doesn't make it more or less difficult, but it does make it very different. The TDF doesn't have many of these irregular gradient climbs, so it would definitely be something new.

 

[Ferminal]

Yeh, I can imagine if the Vuelta is ever in the area they will choose the Malaucene side

 

[Netserk]

Problems with it are:
- Place at the summit is very limited (and the road isn't probably paved up to it)
- It's in the heart of a National Park (Vanoise), where the access to motor vehicles is forbidden.

There seems to be good space to me. A parking lot and the ski station after the climb.

 

[icefire]

Yeh, I can imagine if the Vuelta is ever in the area they will choose the Malaucene side

and they will stop at Mont Serein

 

[Linkinito]

Dumdidum...

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Plateau des Saix?

Would be an epic stage in combination with the Ramaz, Joux Verte and Joux Plane. Eventually, Samoëns can bring in the money to support a stage finish.

 

[Linkinito]

#15: Plateau des Saix (Haute-Savoie)
The Joux-Plane neighbor

When you go up the valley of the river Giffre, you end up into the city of Samoëns. If you continue, you finish in dead ends, and there's only three ways out: doing a u-turn, but that's the coward way. The other two just go up, up, and away into two climbs that are part of the hardest in France. If you turn left, you'll have to climb the col de Joux-Plane, that leads to Morzine, and is one of the classics in the Tour. If you turn right, you end up into another dead end, but it's one of the steepest you can find on the hexagon.

The ski resort of Samoëns 1600, also known as the Plateau des Saix, never hosted the Tour de France, or any other professional cycling race. It's probably because it wasn't really interested by having a stage finish, but when the road was constructed up to the station, even if there wasn't a cycling race in mind, it offers an incredible challenge that is hard to find somewhere else in France. Being short but incredibly steep, it's harder than the Ax-3-Domaines finish that will be featured in this year's Tour. And therefore, making it another HC-worthy climb and a welcomed addition to this list.

The profile just says it all, with some red color all over the place.

Top: 1626 m
Length: 10 km
Ascent: 924 m
Average gradient: 9.2 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 120

Starting in Samoëns, the first 2 kilometers are the easiest, but go in a slow crescendo to prepare for one of the hardest roads you'll ever find in France. The following 3 000 meters go above 11 %, with ramps over 15 %! And the second part of the climb is a bit less steeper, but always flirt with the double-digit gradients. Relentless and challenging, the climb has the only advantage for the rider to be short. It will probably be one of the shortest HC climbs (as it's borderline with 1st category: for example, the col de Menté is 9.3 km at 9.1 % and is Cat. 1) alongside Semnoz.

Of course, this climb will only happen in a race if the station has the will to host a stage finish. So the professionals might wait a bit before having to face the terrible and demanding slopes of this short, but grueling, climb. The amateurs that also like to climb Joux-Plane also know the difficulty of the Plateau des Saix, and represents another behemoth in the Haute-Savoie département. Sportively, this climb has a great interest, and it only needs some people up there to push it into the light of the Tour de France. As long as we don't know the applicants to host a Tour each year, we can't really know if they try or not. But if they do, the time until it gets featured might be short... Like this climb.

 

[Netserk]

I hoped that it'd feature, but feared that it wouldn't.

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.

 

[Linkinito]

I can't reveal anything about the list, but all I can say it's still not final.

Well, the list had some changes. ^^

 

[Netserk]

Well, the list had some changes. ^^

Would love to see Mantet and Portet then

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Bring on Réfuge L'Abérouat.

 

[Kwibus]

#15: Plateau des Saix (Haute-Savoie)
The Joux-Plane neighbor

When you go up the valley of the river Giffre, you end up into the city of Samoëns. If you continue, you finish in dead ends, and there's only three ways out: doing a u-turn, but that's the coward way. The other two just go up, up, and away into two climbs that are part of the hardest in France. If you turn left, you'll have to climb the col de Joux-Plane, that leads to Morzine, and is one of the classics in the Tour. If you turn right, you end up into another dead end, but it's one of the steepest you can find on the hexagon.

The ski resort of Samoëns 1600, also known as the Plateau des Saix, never hosted the Tour de France, or any other professional cycling race. It's probably because it wasn't really interested by having a stage finish, but when the road was constructed up to the station, even if there wasn't a cycling race in mind, it offers an incredible challenge that is hard to find somewhere else in France. Being short but incredibly steep, it's harder than the Ax-3-Domaines finish that will be featured in this year's Tour. And therefore, making it another HC-worthy climb and a welcomed addition to this list.

The profile just says it all, with some red color all over the place.

Top: 1626 m
Length: 10 km
Ascent: 924 m
Average gradient: 9.2 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 120

Starting in Samoëns, the first 2 kilometers are the easiest, but go in a slow crescendo to prepare for one of the hardest roads you'll ever find in France. The following 3 000 meters go above 11 %, with ramps over 15 %! And the second part of the climb is a bit less steeper, but always flirt with the double-digit gradients. Relentless and challenging, the climb has the only advantage for the rider to be short. It will probably be one of the shortest HC climbs (as it's borderline with 1st category: for example, the col de Menté is 9.3 km at 9.1 % and is Cat. 1) alongside Semnoz.

Of course, this climb will only happen in a race if the station has the will to host a stage finish. So the professionals might wait a bit before having to face the terrible and demanding slopes of this short, but grueling, climb. The amateurs that also like to climb Joux-Plane also know the difficulty of the Plateau des Saix, and represents another behemoth in the Haute-Savoie département. Sportively, this climb has a great interest, and it only needs some people up there to push it into the light of the Tour de France. As long as we don't know the applicants to host a Tour each year, we can't really know if they try or not. But if they do, the time until it gets featured might be short... Like this climb.

Great climb. Like most on the list so far, but I try not to get too enthusiastic since the Tour will probably ignore them anyways.

 

[Linkinito]

Great climb. Like most on the list so far, but I try not to get too enthusiastic since the Tour will probably ignore them anyways.

As long as they are not candidates, they'll always ignore them. And they'll nearly always prefer a Morzine finish.

 

[Netserk]

When comparing Plateau des Saix with Pla-d'Adet, there cannot be any doubts that Plateau des Saix is HC.

Similar altitude, but with Saix being both steeper and covering more vertical meters.

 

[Linkinito]

#16: Col du Mont Noir (Isère)
The Vercors' magic square

Undoubtedly, the Vercors mountains are probably one of the most scenic regions in France. The high peaks and the greenness everywhere makes really beautiful sceneries. It's not often visited in the Tour de France, even if the city of Villard-de-Lans hosted some stage finishes. It also has some nice climbs, like the col de Rousset (easy but quite long), the climb up to Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, the col de la Machine, the col du Tourniol, the col de la Bataille, and some other nice roads that lead to the high plateaux of the Vercors. But there's one pass that really need some attention, and for multiple reasons.

First of all, it's the highest road pass in the Vercors, topping at 1431 meters. Most of the climbs usually reach 1000 to 1200 meters, but this one goes above every road elsewhere in these mountains. Second, it offers some spectacular sceneries on each road that come to the top. Yeah, that's right. Because the third reason is probably the best of them all: it can be climbed from 4 different sides, and are all HC-worthy. This is quite unique in France: wherever you start climb it, you'll know it's an HC whatever the way you're riding as long as you're taking the direct way up. Despite not topping really high, the length and the gradient of these climbs would be welcomed additions to the Tour de France.

Four climbs that make a "magic square", and let's review them one by one. Exceptionally, the cyclingcols profiles will be used.

Top: 1431 m (not 1421)
From Cognin-les-Gorges (north)
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 118
From Saint-Pierre-de-Chérennes (west)
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 122
From Saint-Gervais (east)
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 124
From Pont-en-Royans (south)
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 115

Each climb is unique and offer a different challenge, while being roughly equal in difficulty. From Cognin-les-Gorges, you have an extremely regular climb, by always staying in the 7-8 % range during the entirety of the climb. You also benefit from this side from a spectacular view on the gorges of the river Nan during 2 kilometers, and on a road constructed in a cliff. The climbs join the Saint-Pierre-de-Chérennes side near the end, and that's the final easier part. The west side has a long hard part, with 6 km at more than 9 % in average, before arriving to Le Faz. Then the second part, again, is easier, as the route connects with the Cognin side.

From Saint-Gervais, you'll have to climb up the rough col de Roméyère, with a very hard part nearing 10 % before arriving to a dark tunnel, without any lights. This is the easy part of the climb, as it doesn't go above a steepness of 5 %. Then, when the col is climbed, another road goes up to the col du Mont Noir, with 5 km at 7.3 % average. A final way to climb the Mont Noir is by Pont-en-Royans, which is the longest but probably the easiest climb, the first part being the steepest up to Presles. Then it goes through a forest road straight up to the pass, but an alternative route is possible by joining the north and west sides farther to the north (the climb is then 19.3 km @ 6.2 %).

The Mont Noir is a hidden treasure that still needs to be discovered and raced by some organizers. Offering up to four unique challenges, the possibilities are huge. Including this climb in a stage could create some decisive gaps as long as it's well-placed. As a final climb, the battle could be legendary. It might not be tall, but its certainly a "grand col".

 

[rghysens]

Nice one.
Again.

 

[nick101]

Great work Linkinito! I'm enjoying finding out about climbs i've never heard of

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Love this thread, but where's today's climb?

Yes, Linkinito, great job so far!

 

[Linkinito]

#17: Col du Grand Colombier - other sides (Ain)
The redemption of a forgotten climb

In 2012, the Tour de France brought to the world a new Hors Catégorie climb: the col du Grand Colombier. Being one of the hardest climbs in France, its absence during 98 editions was a bit of a bummer, but now, that void is filled. The Jura mountains finally had their HC climb, in a wonderful scenery watching over the Rhône valley. However, its inclusion wasn't really welcomed well by some cycling fans, even if this climb had a great difficulty. The main problem wasn't the pass itself, but the stage as whole. Another stage with the "Pescheux signature", with a very long descent up to the finish. Kind of a joke, considering the Porrentruy stage was one of the best medium-mountain stages ever traced in the recent history of the Tour.

Also, the col wasn't climbed by its hardest road. Of course, we definitely can't say the south side (starting from Culoz) is easy. With 18.3 km at 6.9 % average, with some parts at 14 %, the Grand Colombier easily bears comparison with some quite hard climbs in the Alps and the Pyrénées, despite topping "only" at 1501 m. The Culoz side also offers the best scenery to go up there, and the helicopters of France Télévisions didn't went wrong when filming the series of S-turns mid-climb. But well, there's much harder roads to reach the pass. And there's two. One on the west, one on the east.

Both of them have very different profiles, despite having very similar general numbers.

Top: 1501 m
From Artemare (west):
Length: 15.9 km
Ascent: 1245 m
Average gradient: 7.8 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 134
From Anglefort (east):
Length: 15.2 km
Ascent: 1205 m
Average gradient: 7.9 %
Climbbybike Difficulty score: 132

From Artemare, the very first kilometers are rather easy, but are quite irregular, alternating false flats and steeper parts at 6-7 %. But the real deal begins at the small village of Virieu-le-Petit. With 5 km at 11 % average gradient, with 400 meters at 19 %, it's just torturous. Then, there's a near-flat kilometer, which would quite appear flat after a slope like this before. Before the finale of 3 km that also break the double-digit barrier in terms of steepness. For many people, the Grand Colombier via Virieu is the toughest climb in France.

From Anglefort however, you won't find some ultra-hard part like on the opposite side. But this climb is much more regular and offer a whole different challenge. We need to note however that the final 9 kilometers are common with the south side, eg. the one which starts in Culoz. But it's first part is grueling with 10 km at 9 % and 13 % portions. Then, like on the other side, appears a false flat, noticeably longer than the Virieu one, but that's just a moment of break before the final part. But this one is also known by the Tour and you already saw it on TV, so I won't really describe it.

The Grand Colombier was a very late discovery for the Tour. Considering many local and amateur races used it for their queen stage, it was a bit awkward to see the Tour completely ignoring it for so many years, and worse, having the race sometimes going through Anglefort or Culoz without daring to adventure on the Grand Colombier slopes. But now that ASO knows it, the Grand Colombier can show its hardest sides to the riders, and give them a challenge they can only find on the climbs like the Angliru or the Zoncolan. Not being too far from the Mont du Chat, both can create an incredible and unforgiving duo of climbs. And let's not forget the nearby col de la Biche and col du Clergeon which also offers steep roads and harsh challenges. The Jura is now in the house. Bring it on, ASO!

Sorry for being late :/