Oh yes! Can't believe hautacam wasn't on the list. But for me personally Galibier is the best, because of the 2011 tour. When you watch the tour it's the riders and the roads lined with fans that make the climbs special... Gives me goosebumps! :)
Very nice top 10 indeed. I believe that the Mont du Chat could be an amazing addition here. It's only 9 kms but the average gradient is above 10%! It is one of the very few french climbs that has a similar level of difficulty as the great Zoncolan or Angliru! Hope to see that climb more often in the future...
In summary I agree with those. There are definitely plenty more climbs that need to be mentioned, like La Toussouire, Col du Lautaret, Col de la croix de fer, les Deux alpes and many more. But in my opinion nothing beats l‘alpe d‘huez and Mont Ventoux! Those two are the greatest legends in Tour de France history.
I like Port des Bales tackled from Mauleon Barousse. Highly recommended!
7 ปีที่แล้ว +1
There's also the "Col de Caradhras" , with over 28.5% average incline and rocks falling on the road, and sometimes on riders, of which 98 have died since the col was first used in 1905. Also the riders have to ride in 12 inches of snow in blizzard-like conditions because of the everlasting winter. Can't believe you forgot this one.
Yes. The Glandon is the most under appreciated because it is mainly used as part of the croix de fer, and aside from that the croix de fer is a classic from both sides
I'm just back from a 4 day tour taking in Cayolle, Vars, Izoard Sestriere and Lombard. I'd definitely put Izoard south side on the must-do list. Petty you missed out the best bits of scenery in this video. The north side is a great descent but looks quite a tedious climb compared to south from Guillestre. I'd recommend the book 'Mountain High' by Daniel Friebe and Pete Goding by the way, has some great stories about the Izoard and other cols in Europe.
Well, I only have my bike for not even a year (I got hooked after crawling up the calibier on a rental bike...). So personally, definitely the calibier!
My top 10 colombian climbs: 1. El Crucero from Aguazul. Lenght: 96 km Average: 3.3% Elevation Difference: 3165m Altitude: 3460m 2. Alto de Letras from Mariquita. Lenght: 80.7 km Average: 3.95% Elevation Difference: 3187m Altitude: 3677m 3. El Limonar. Lenght: 8.53 km Average: 12.83% Elevation Difference: 1094m Altitude: 2497m 4. Alto de la Línea from Calarcá. Lenght: 21.7 km Average: 7.62% Elevation Difference: 1653 m Altitude: 3265m 5. Alto de la Tribuna. Lenght: 37.5 Average: 5.15% Elevation Difference: 1930 m Altitude: 2714 m 6. Alto el Vino from la Vega. Lenght: 38.5 km Average: 5.15% Elevation Difference: 1984 m Altitude: 2835 m 7. Alto de la Cuchilla from Gachetá. Lenght: 35.9 km Average: 4.53% Elevation Difference: 1627 m Altitude: 3365 m 8. La loma del Escobero. Lenght: 9.6 km Average: 9.70% Elevation Difference: 931 m Altitude: 2519 m 9. La China from Bello. Lenght: 12 km Average: 9.17% Elevation Difference: 1100m Altitude: 2527 m 10. Páramo del Verjón from Choachí. Lenght: 33.53 km Average: 5.32% Elevation Difference: 1783 m Altitude:3367 m
I really thought we see the Ventoux this year. Despite Alpe last year and Galibier this year, 2020 we could see it hopefulky back. Also because I missed those flat stages with a long summit finish the last two years in the Tour, despite Giro and Vuelta having those stages continuesly.
I'm a real fan of your work. You keep it light, fun and quick! That being said, why, when you do your "Top 10" lists do you start with #1? After I see #1, I check out. Keep us engaged by starting with 10 and finishing with 1, no?
Telegraphe and Galibier certainly very tough. Glandon surprisingly tricky. Marie Blanque can be very painful as it gradually ratchets up. Have done the Pierre St Martin several times, as featured this year and it is as hard as any of the others - and there are another 3km of climbing you can do when you get there!
1. Alpe D'Huez 2. Mont Ventoux 3. Col du Tourmalet 4. Col du Galibier 5. Izoard 6. La Maddaleine 7. La Croix de Fer 8. Planche des Belle Filles 9. Col de Peyresourde 10. Plateau de Beille Tour 1. Mortirolo 2. Monte Zoncolan 3. Aprica 4. Sestriere 5. Gran Sasso d'Italia 6. Etna 7. Colle delle Finestre 8. Monte Bianco 9. Prato Nevoso 10. Col du Galibier Giro My personal opinion.
col de mongenevre ( because i lived there) duex alpes (because i lived there too) and col de mont cenis because it's easy to ride and beautiful when up there.
This is a long shot, In the early '90, when we would get a 30min TDF recap at 4am, there was a climb that started flat and near the end the professional rides were literally stalling on this climb and falling over...can you help me identify this climb
What about Hautacam ( where Indurain was finally unseated from his Tour de France throne o where "he, who should not be named" pretty much sealed his second Tour de France "victory" or where Nibali put everyone to shame in 2014?
Good selection but I can´t understand why adding Plateau de Beille (10) and specially Le Planche des belles filles (5)..there are climbs like Hautacam,Glandon,La Croix de Fer,Iseran,Orcieres Merlette,Joux Plane,Iseran..which have more personality and are much more important in the Tour de France history.
Some nice ones from personal knowledge: Hourqette d' anzizan (used in 2013 i believe) Puy d' dome col d' Iseran (from the south side) Also a lot of climbs in the pyrenees are on dead end roads that never get finished in the tour because they have no economic value. don't be fooled, the tour could harbour steeper and tougher climbs every now and then if they didn't favour important ski stations all the time. A such, a climb like the alp d huez is undoubtedly though, but overused and not all the pretty. (the back side of the alp is much nicer and quieter for instance)
jamás podría estar de acuerdo con que La Planches des Belles Filles integre esa lista, para nada. Hay muchos otros Cols mas largos y duros como Vars, Bonette, Courchevel, La Croix de Fer, Superbagneres, Aspin, Pailheres, La Pierre D Sanint Martin, Izoard por ejemplo. Y lo digo con propiedad porque yo he subido los mencionados y unos cuantos mas!
As if the gradient isn't tough enough, riders have to deal with tossers getting in their way, running beside them, and I'm sure the constant yelling isn't good for one's concentration either. Road-side fans are, in my humble opinion, the most annoying aspect of otherwise epic bike races. Racers should be allowed to carry mace. ;-)
+Lucas This refers to the gradient of the uphill. The distance you cover vertically over the course of the distance you cover horizontally. Calculated by dividing vertical distance by horizontal distance. For example, if you cover 100 meters distance, and in that 100 meters you climb 10 meters vertically (elevation gain), the average gradient of that 100 meter slope will be 10/100 expressed in a percentage, which will in this case be 10% (which by the way, is a serious gradient) - So for the alpe d/huez, 13.2km at an average of roughly 8%, you will ascend an average of 8m for every 100m you climb, leaving you with an elevation gain of roughly 1056m... So over 1km altitude change, from where you started.
+Lucas Unless you were joking sarcastically, referring to average and percentage being the same thing :D In this case, ignore my long ass explanation here :)
Someone rode a Boris Bike (London hire bike) up Ventoux, so pretty sure if you've got 2 wheels and bags of determination you could ride whatever bike you wanted 😊
Ive done the Madeleine,Galibier and Alpe D Huez.
Fantastic climbs. You can suffer with a smile up these majestic slopes.
This kind of video is exactly why I love GCN. Great content with that audible chocolate voice of Dan Lloyd! Brilliant
I can't take my eyes off the lady parts still in the framed kit!
Col de Joux Plane - One of the few climbs where 'he who shall not be named' popped
Luz Ardiden must be in the list !! never will forget the best stage in cycling history luz ardiden 2003 :)
Col de Machine in the Vercors. Stunning balcony road overlooking a gorge.
Mur de huy, the peyragudes slope and the the ascent to emosson dam are my favorites
Hautacam and Sestriere are both great climbs.
Oh yes! Can't believe hautacam wasn't on the list. But for me personally Galibier is the best, because of the 2011 tour. When you watch the tour it's the riders and the roads lined with fans that make the climbs special... Gives me goosebumps! :)
@ Galibier is where two of my favorites blew out everybody else. Pantani smashing Ullrich and Schleck finishing off his incredible solo.
Very nice top 10 indeed. I believe that the Mont du Chat could be an amazing addition here. It's only 9 kms but the average gradient is above 10%! It is one of the very few french climbs that has a similar level of difficulty as the great Zoncolan or Angliru! Hope to see that climb more often in the future...
Mont Ventoux looks so mighty from the bottom! Very impressive...
Col de l'Iseran from Bourg Saint Maurice is the greatest for me, 48km of climbing and height top is 2770m.
Not sure, quite main roady with lots of commercial traffic for first 2/3rds of the climb to Val d’Isere and not very difficult as far as there
"Jelle Vanendert", that pronounciation :D Love your work guys. Love this beautiful sport more and more every day just by watching your video's!
In summary I agree with those. There are definitely plenty more climbs that need to be mentioned, like La Toussouire, Col du Lautaret, Col de la croix de fer, les Deux alpes and many more. But in my opinion nothing beats l‘alpe d‘huez and Mont Ventoux! Those two are the greatest legends in Tour de France history.
Aubisque, Solour, Peyresourdes were all incredibly beautiful. Tourmalet was brutal but didn't feel nearly as scenic as the rest.
The col d'Aspin is one of less difficult, but one of the most beautiful.
The Col D'Izoard was the last mountain Stage in 2017.You like having the mountain top 2017 finishes on this.
I like Port des Bales tackled from Mauleon Barousse. Highly recommended!
There's also the "Col de Caradhras" , with over 28.5% average incline and rocks falling on the road, and sometimes on riders, of which 98 have died since the col was first used in 1905. Also the riders have to ride in 12 inches of snow in blizzard-like conditions because of the everlasting winter. Can't believe you forgot this one.
Super awesome Boss D, it would have been nice to see the max and min gradient in each of the climbs....
Glandon and croix de fer should be in there
Yes. The Glandon is the most under appreciated because it is mainly used as part of the croix de fer, and aside from that the croix de fer is a classic from both sides
I love GCN !!!
I'm just back from a 4 day tour taking in Cayolle, Vars, Izoard Sestriere and Lombard. I'd definitely put Izoard south side on the must-do list. Petty you missed out the best bits of scenery in this video. The north side is a great descent but looks quite a tedious climb compared to south from Guillestre. I'd recommend the book 'Mountain High' by Daniel Friebe and Pete Goding by the way, has some great stories about the Izoard and other cols in Europe.
That’s the opposite of how you’re meant to countdown no climax :(
I envy all you guys....I live in flat Florida. I can only dream to visit there one day.
COL Du Tourmulet, of course it can be tackled from two sides
Well, I only have my bike for not even a year (I got hooked after crawling up the calibier on a rental bike...). So personally, definitely the calibier!
My top 10 colombian climbs:
1. El Crucero from Aguazul.
Lenght: 96 km
Average: 3.3%
Elevation Difference: 3165m
Altitude: 3460m
2. Alto de Letras from Mariquita.
Lenght: 80.7 km
Average: 3.95%
Elevation Difference: 3187m
Altitude: 3677m
3. El Limonar.
Lenght: 8.53 km
Average: 12.83%
Elevation Difference: 1094m
Altitude: 2497m
4. Alto de la Línea from Calarcá.
Lenght: 21.7 km
Average: 7.62%
Elevation Difference: 1653 m
Altitude: 3265m
5. Alto de la Tribuna.
Lenght: 37.5
Average: 5.15%
Elevation Difference: 1930 m
Altitude: 2714 m
6. Alto el Vino from la Vega.
Lenght: 38.5 km
Average: 5.15%
Elevation Difference: 1984 m
Altitude: 2835 m
7. Alto de la Cuchilla from Gachetá.
Lenght: 35.9 km
Average: 4.53%
Elevation Difference: 1627 m
Altitude: 3365 m
8. La loma del Escobero.
Lenght: 9.6 km
Average: 9.70%
Elevation Difference: 931 m
Altitude: 2519 m
9. La China from Bello.
Lenght: 12 km
Average: 9.17%
Elevation Difference: 1100m
Altitude: 2527 m
10. Páramo del Verjón from Choachí.
Lenght: 33.53 km
Average: 5.32%
Elevation Difference: 1783 m
Altitude:3367 m
I really thought we see the Ventoux this year. Despite Alpe last year and Galibier this year, 2020 we could see it hopefulky back. Also because I missed those flat stages with a long summit finish the last two years in the Tour, despite Giro and Vuelta having those stages continuesly.
TheColCollective is brilliant for climb bio's!
My guesses (no order): Alpe dHuez, Mont Ventoux, Galibier, Izoard, Madeleine, Planche de Belles Filles,
The Lacetes.
Short, sweet, steep and very narrow. A classic
Are those Cervelo Test Team shorts on the wall? Just kidding, what a great video!
i hadnt even heard of several of these. think i'm going to spend a nice quiet evening with google earth now
Damn, the early TDF was like a bad ass gravel race in parts!
I'm a real fan of your work. You keep it light, fun and quick! That being said, why, when you do your "Top 10" lists do you start with #1? After I see #1, I check out. Keep us engaged by starting with 10 and finishing with 1, no?
Telegraphe and Galibier certainly very tough. Glandon surprisingly tricky. Marie Blanque can be very painful as it gradually ratchets up. Have done the Pierre St Martin several times, as featured this year and it is as hard as any of the others - and there are another 3km of climbing you can do when you get there!
Hautacam and a real classic: Puy de dome. Also Col du Glandon/croix de fer which is tackled 3 times in 3 different stages this year
1. Alpe D'Huez
2. Mont Ventoux
3. Col du Tourmalet
4. Col du Galibier
5. Izoard
6. La Maddaleine
7. La Croix de Fer
8. Planche des Belle Filles
9. Col de Peyresourde
10. Plateau de Beille
Tour
1. Mortirolo
2. Monte Zoncolan
3. Aprica
4. Sestriere
5. Gran Sasso d'Italia
6. Etna
7. Colle delle Finestre
8. Monte Bianco
9. Prato Nevoso
10. Col du Galibier
Giro
My personal opinion.
Col de Joly what a view,!
Although it's never been at the tour? I love the col de la Madone
I was expecting La Planche Des Belles Filles.One of the 2017 stages.
col de mongenevre ( because i lived there) duex alpes (because i lived there too) and col de mont cenis because it's easy to ride and beautiful when up there.
Global Cycling Network morzine to avoriaz, including the little climb from Les Gets.
Please do the same video to Giro next year please
Hautecam is a classic deadens climb.
Plan de beret
Superbag at Luchon
Col du Mont du Chat in the Alps. 14.3km at 8.9% in average ! Used by the TdF only once in 1974.
Ou bien ? Ou bien ? and in 2017!
Col de Sarenne at 2013 TDF Near Alpe d'Huez ic most Challenging. Tarmac road..........
Joux Plan. Bring on L'etape this year!!!
What about a top 10 British climbs GCN? Thumbs up if you agree.
This is a long shot, In the early '90, when we would get a 30min TDF recap at 4am, there was a climb that started flat and near the end the professional rides were literally stalling on this climb and falling over...can you help me identify this climb
I think the Port de Balès should be in there instead of the Peyresourde but I acknowledge the Peyresourde has been included a lot more.
What do they do with these bikes after the race or when they are outdated? Is there a secondary market?
I think la Bastille in Grenoble has also been in the Tour the France and it can be Super Steep.
Puy de Dome? Not been used in the tour for years but never lacks drama.
+jayaybe1 yes so hard climb
jayaybe1 yes bit unfortunatly puy de dome can't be use in tour de france now say christian prudhomme
What about Luz Ardiden?
Platuea de Beille is really hard
What about Hautacam ( where Indurain was finally unseated from his Tour de France throne o where "he, who should not be named" pretty much sealed his second Tour de France "victory" or where Nibali put everyone to shame in 2014?
For the 2017 Tour is Alp D'huez absent or am I being a tad dumb?
RDR player It’s used roughly every two years, so it wouldn’t be surprising if it was absent in 2017.
Reach for the top...
There's a pretty big hill by my house, pretty sure it isn't categorized, must be a HC
There is no point in adding La Planche des Belles Filles when you can select either Col du Glandon or La Croix de Fer. Huge mistake there
Agree. Croix de Fer and Glandon are one of the best climbs. No road signs. It just goes on and on.
If it weren't so. Lose to the croix de fer, the glandon would be much more famous
Or the Grand Colombier
U obviously don't know how steep La planche des belles filles is
Now Aru 2017 on the planche... it's the mountain of the italians!
Good selection but I can´t understand why adding Plateau de Beille (10) and specially Le Planche des belles filles (5)..there are climbs like Hautacam,Glandon,La Croix de Fer,Iseran,Orcieres Merlette,Joux Plane,Iseran..which have more personality and are much more important in the Tour de France history.
Jordi S.M obviously you don't know how steep la planche des belles filles is
Alberto contador king of everything except I go for fabio aru 0_o
The col de la loze ist the hardest one. 21.8km climing at 7.8%
Some nice ones from personal knowledge:
Hourqette d' anzizan (used in 2013 i believe)
Puy d' dome
col d' Iseran (from the south side)
Also a lot of climbs in the pyrenees are on dead end roads that never get finished in the tour because they have no economic value. don't be fooled, the tour could harbour steeper and tougher climbs every now and then if they didn't favour important ski stations all the time. A such, a climb like the alp d huez is undoubtedly though, but overused and not all the pretty. (the back side of the alp is much nicer and quieter for instance)
Col de la Croix de Fer, Hautacam
This video was made it 2015, when it had only been used once, now though I feel as if Mont du Chat should be included.
Cote de Holme Moss surely?! haha
Jake Saxon my local!
+Jake Saxon Best named: Cote de Blubberhouses ; )
la planche des belles filles length is actually 5,9 km
Maybe #11 would be Col de la Bonnette or Glandon...
No Puy de Dome?
The tour needs a Zoncolan
does anyone know what is the highest gradient on mount ventoux?
metalehead95 its definitely 15.4% about 8km from the top
could you say La Planche des Belles Filles again....or at all??
jamás podría estar de acuerdo con que La Planches des Belles Filles integre esa lista, para nada. Hay muchos otros Cols mas largos y duros como Vars, Bonette, Courchevel, La Croix de Fer, Superbagneres, Aspin, Pailheres, La Pierre D Sanint Martin, Izoard por ejemplo. Y lo digo con propiedad porque yo he subido los mencionados y unos cuantos mas!
Mine ?? Izoard, the Aspin, Perysourde, Columbier, Galibier, the Bonnette ( Restofond) I didn't like the Alpe at all, the bends were too flat,
Galibier was first climbed in 1911, not 1947! Don't rely on Wikipedia for your facts!
PORT DE BALES .
As if the gradient isn't tough enough, riders have to deal with tossers getting in their way, running beside them, and I'm sure the constant yelling isn't good for one's concentration either. Road-side fans are, in my humble opinion, the most annoying aspect of otherwise epic bike races. Racers should be allowed to carry mace. ;-)
The harder is Mont Ventoux for sure
the secret race
No Col De Iseran? Come on....😢
What does the average % mean?
+Lucas This refers to the gradient of the uphill. The distance you cover vertically over the course of the distance you cover horizontally. Calculated by dividing vertical distance by horizontal distance. For example, if you cover 100 meters distance, and in that 100 meters you climb 10 meters vertically (elevation gain), the average gradient of that 100 meter slope will be 10/100 expressed in a percentage, which will in this case be 10% (which by the way, is a serious gradient) - So for the alpe d/huez, 13.2km at an average of roughly 8%, you will ascend an average of 8m for every 100m you climb, leaving you with an elevation gain of roughly 1056m... So over 1km altitude change, from where you started.
+Lucas Unless you were joking sarcastically, referring to average and percentage being the same thing :D In this case, ignore my long ass explanation here :)
mynaamiskaas Lol, no, not at all :) Thanks for explaining, had a rough idea of what it ment, but thanks for confirming! :)
Lucas Awesome! Learnt this from watching the flat stages on Giro d'Italia. Good ol' Dan Lloyd and Charlton Kirby explained it :) Cheers brother
E.G 10%= 1in10 or elevating 1000m in 10km
Would any of these be possible on a xc mtb? Lol
Someone rode a Boris Bike (London hire bike) up Ventoux, so pretty sure if you've got 2 wheels and bags of determination you could ride whatever bike you wanted 😊
Col de la grande colombiere. Hardest climb in France. Period.