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Question about the classification of mountains on the tour

Feb 14, 2012
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I read on Nicolas Roche's diary that the origional classification of the mountains on the tour was due to what gear a car was used to drive up it. I can't find anything on this on the web. Is this true?

Its a great fact if it is - anyone able to shed some light on it?
 
Apr 8, 2010
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As far as I know the first categorization used was in A and B mountains (or at least such a categorization has been used at some point in time).

I've also heard that the categorization was based on how difficult the climb was for the cars to pass. I haven't heard the story about that the mountain category should correspond to a specific car gear. Considering the state of cars in the first TdF mountain stages I think it's likely that they just used the lowest gear when ever the road turned upwards.

Judging by Memoire Cyclisme's homepage the first categorization of climbs was introduced in 1947.
 
Maroon Heaven said:
I read on Nicolas Roche's diary that the origional classification of the mountains on the tour was due to what gear a car was used to drive up it. I can't find anything on this on the web. Is this true?

Its a great fact if it is - anyone able to shed some light on it?

Correct. But it's now based on height.
 
May 11, 2009
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kjetilraknerud said:
I want a HC gear on my car!

Many years ago in the UK I had such a gear on my Morris-8 car - it was called reverse.

It had 1, 2, 3 and R; to get up really steep grades one backed up the hill.
 

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