Outside the French mountain town of Le Bourg-d’Oisans, cyclists are preparing for a demanding challenge: the ascent to the ski resort of Alpe d’Huez. Stretching just over 12km, the D211 road climbs more than 1,000 vertical metres to reach the resort at over 1,800 metres elevation. Known for its relentless gradient and 21 hairpin bends, Alpe d’Huez has become one of the most iconic climbs in professional cycling, frequently featured in the Tour de France since 1952.
In early June, a group of amateur cyclists, including Andrew Feather—a multiple winner of Britain’s hill climb championships and a corporate lawyer from Bristol—gathered at the base of the climb. Feather, who gained broader recognition last year by outperforming Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar in a charity hill climb, acted as coach and paceman for participants attempting to ascend the road in under an hour, a sought-after benchmark for serious amateurs.
The climb holds a special place in cycling history. Although not the highest or most often visited mountain pass in the Tour—the records belong to the Cime de la Bonette and the Col du Tourmalet respectively—Alpe d’Huez was the first summit finish in the Tour de France. This milestone transformed the race by emphasizing uphill sprints at the finish line. Its challenging terrain and festive atmosphere draw hundreds of thousands of spectators during race days, with an estimated crowd of over 600,000 at times, though the event is unticketed and loosely controlled.
The resort’s association with cycling also owes much to local hoteliers who promoted the region beyond its winter skiing appeal, leading to the climb’s first appearance in the Tour in 1952. Today, the resort sees a steady influx of visitors throughout the summer, many drawn by events such as the Marmotte amateur sportive and charity rides, particularly from the Netherlands, whose fans have historically brought a vibrant atmosphere to the race’s famed “Dutch Corner.”
Recent notable moments on Alpe d’Huez include wins by British riders Geraint Thomas in 2018 and Tom Pidcock in 2022, the latter delivering a memorable solo climb on Bastille Day. Pidcock, preparing for his fourth Tour de France, advises riders to pace themselves by recovering at each hairpin and saving energy for a final push.
Amateur cyclists benefit from modern technology such as the fitness app Strava, which tracks and compares individual efforts. Feather’s 2022 ascent—just under 38 minutes—is ranked among the top times on the platform, underscoring the climb’s challenge for riders of varying levels. Feather points to the app’s role in boosting Alpe d’Huez’s popularity among cyclists eager to measure themselves against the mountain’s demanding profile and rich heritage.
Participants in the cycling camp often explore surrounding routes, including the Col de la Croix de Fer and the quieter Col de Sarenne, offering contrasting landscapes and levels of difficulty. The region’s scenery comprises dramatic cliffs, wildflower meadows, and mountain wildlife such as marmots and cuckoos, providing a natural backdrop to the physical challenge.
The exercise culminates back in Alpe d’Huez’s town center, where cyclists pause beneath an arch marking the Tour’s finish line, a spot usually crowded with fans and media during race days. As the Tour de France prepares to return to the climbs this summer, enthusiasts continue to embrace the mountain’s legacy, sharing in the experience of cycling one of the sport’s greatest stages.