Alpe d'Huez via the 21 hairpins
Road cycling
- Distance
- 15.9 km
- Elevation
- 1,120 m
- Est. time
- 1 h 20
- Power
- 220 W
- Max altitude
- 1,845 m
- Avg gradient
- 7.0%
The climb: 13.8 km averaging 8.1%, 13% at its steepest, 1,120 m of elevation gain, from the foot of the slope to the Tour finish.
Time and power estimated for a 75 kg rider at 220 W, climbing without stopping. Route from OpenStreetMap, altitudes from Copernicus.
The most famous climb in the Tour de France starts less than 2 km from Le Cosy Lodge. Ride through town, over the D1091 roundabout, then another 800 m of flat before the D211 suddenly kicks up. The first three kilometres, up to La Garde, hover close to 10%. After that, the gradient stays around 8%. You pass Le Ribot, the church of Saint-Ferréol at bend 7, the famous Dutch Corner, then the village of Huez. At every hairpin, a sign bears the names of stage winners. And you finish like the pros, at the top of avenue du Rif Nel.
- 21 hairpins numbered from 21 down to 1, named after stage winners
- Record: Pogačar in 35'26'' on 24 July 2026 (Velon data)
- 1952: Coppi wins the Tour's very first summit finish here
- Summer
- Road rideable from May to October, weather permitting.
- Winter
- Closed in winter · reopens in May
In summer, set off early: the climb heats up fast, and the first three kilometres are the steepest, so pace yourself. Fill your bottles before leaving town and take a windproof for the descent.
The D211 stays open to traffic all season, with cars and buses heading up to the resort: keep well to the right, especially on the hairpins going down. No tunnels on the route. When the Tour de France finishes here, the climb is closed to cars for several days (in 2026, from 23 to 26 July, with night closures from the 18th) and even to bikes while the race comes through. Check the road closure notices before you set off.