Toughest mountain stage ever

[jordan5000]

I`m knew to cycling so I want some tough mountain stages to look up and watch. My criteria for toughest mountain stage are as follows:

1. 3000m+ (10 000 ft) of climbing.
2. The less descents (they can act as rests at some points) the better.
3. Doesn`t have to be in a GT, but it`s better.
4. Tough weather conditions earn points in my book to.
With that criteria in mind, what do you think are some of the toughest mountain stages everÉ If you could provide video links (preferably in English) that would be great. A profile of the stage or distance climbed would be great too.

Also if this topic has been posted already please send a link to the thread, I searched but didn`t find anything. Thank you.

 

[sultanofhyd]

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

angliru, nor zoncolan hit 2000m let alone 3000, but when involved almost always epic. For me personally, gradient is a more importamt factor that alltitude, which admittedly at height does mix things up.

anyway sultanofhyd is right on the money, Giro - stage 15 was one of the most epic mountain stages in years. And one of the best days of racing this year.

Zoncolan and that the best two GT stages this year. Maybe Angrilu next.

 

[LukeSchmid]

It was a brilliant stage, multiple hard climbs on a long stage raced hard. 7h 27mins for the winner, over 8 hours for the last to finish. The reason why the Giro is loved by many is great stages like this one.

 

[jordan5000]

angliru, nor zoncolan hit 2000m let alone 3000, but when involved almost always epic. For me personally, gradient is a more importamt factor that alltitude, which admittedly at height does mix things up.

anyway sultanofhyd is right on the money, Giro - stage 15 was one of the most epic mountain stages in years. And one of the best days of racing this year.

Zoncolan and that the best two GT stages this year. Maybe Angrilu next.

Allow me to clarify, when I say 3000m I mean of climbing, that would be the equivalent of two 15km climbs at 10% each.

 

[jordan5000]

It was a brilliant stage, multiple hard climbs on a long stage raced hard. 7h 27mins for the winner, over 8 hours for the last to finish. The reason why the Giro is loved by many is great stages like this one.

Are you referring to the stage posted above?

 

[Ferminal]

It was a brilliant stage, multiple hard climbs on a long stage raced hard. 7h 27mins for the winner, over 8 hours for the last to finish. The reason why the Giro is loved by many is great stages like this one.

The most amazing part was the way they came in absolutely scattered all the way down the list - no autobus, just every man for himself. Credit to every man that got over the line.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Are you referring to the stage posted above?

Yes, Contador declared that it was the hardest stage he ever rode.

It came after two MTF's of Grossglockner and the Zoncolan.

 

[jordan5000]

I looked up that stage, wow. Is a category 1 the hardest climb in the Giro?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I looked up that stage, wow. Is a category 1 the hardest climb in the Giro?

yes. no hc. Different system. Not due to a lack of difficulty

It truly was an epic stage.

 

[sultanofhyd]

I looked up that stage, wow. Is a category 1 the hardest climb in the Giro?

I think so, yes.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

yes. no hc. Different system. Not due to a lack of difficulty

It truly was an epic stage.

yes team leaders were all alone with 50+ kms to go, it was unseen

 

[LukeSchmid]

Are you referring to the stage posted above?

Yes I was.
If the Crotis had been climbed before Zoncolan, as planned on stage 14, that would have been absolutely amazing too, not as long but the most fearsome double act ever. Probably never happen now which is a pity.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The Giro has cat.1, 2, 3 and 4, plus a special prize, the Cima Coppi, for the highest point in the race, regardless of how hard that climb actually is.

The Vuelta has the Giro's old system of cat.1, 2, and 3, with extra points paid for MTFs regardless of how easy or hard. Hence Martin gets as many points for winning on La Covatilla as Cobo gets for Anglirú, and because Sierra Nevada is the highest point in the Vuelta Moreno got more points for that than anybody else will get in any climb.

Anyway, for a pretty useful list, try here:
http://plataformarecorridosciclistas.org/2009/10/04/etapas-mas-duras-de-la-historia/

A couple of favourites:

Stelvio, Mortirolo, Aprica, Santa Cristina!

Glandon, Madeleine, Aravis, Colombière, Chatillon and Joux-Plane...

 

[Descender]

The hardest mountain stage of all time is the first stage mountain ever to be raced on the Pyrenees, in 1910.

327km between Bayonne and Luchon with Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, Aubisque and Osquich. Most of the stage on unpaved roads with 15kg bicycles.

Beat that.

 

[vcampbell]

+1 It was the hardest stage what I have ever seen. I felt the pain when I watched Nieve on Val di Fassa, it was like a never ending climb. I must download it from somewhere and watch again. It was epic.

 

[LaFlorecita]

+1 It was the hardest stage what I have ever seen. I felt the pain when I watched Nieve on Val di Fassa, it was like a never ending climb. I must download it from somewhere and watch again. It was epic.

Definitely the most epic stage in years.

 

[Escarabajo]

...

Glandon, Madeleine, Aravis, Colombière, Chatillon and Joux-Plane...

When was that stage? 1983?

 

[The Hitch]

Some day friends.

Some day.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Inspired by the Bola del Mundo stage doing both sides of the same climb, I think they should go Zoncolán (por Sutrio) - Crostis loop - Zoncolán (por Ovaro).

 

[jordan5000]

Some day friends.

Some day.

I'm just curious, how many meters of climbing are in that stage, looks like a ton!

 

[jordan5000]

The hardest mountain stage of all time is the first stage mountain ever to be raced on the Pyrenees, in 1910.

327km between Bayonne and Luchon with Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, Aubisque and Osquich. Most of the stage on unpaved roads with 15kg bicycles.

Beat that.

That is tough, but let's try to keep them from the 40s onward and besides riders rode at night so I suspect some of them cheated a bit (cars).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

2040
Stage from Flevoland to Dutch Mountain, containing 5x the Dutch Mountain uphill and downhill. 12km at 10%

 

[roundabout]

I'm just curious, how many meters of climbing are in that stage, looks like a ton!

Over 5000 at a glance.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Inspired by the Bola del Mundo stage doing both sides of the same climb, I think they should go Zoncolán (por Sutrio) - Crostis loop - Zoncolán (por Ovaro).

That would be brutal but amazing!