Climb 11 of 22Isère, France
Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort in the French Alps, and the road up to it is one of the best known climbs in the Tour de France. It starts in Le Bourg d'Oisans and climbs through 21 numbered hairpin bends.
- km long
- 13.8
- metres up
- 1,093
- steepest part
- 14%
- Flat
- Gentle
- Steady
- Hard
- Steep
How long does it take to ride up Alpe d'Huez?
For a rider who weighs 75 kg, riding at a steady pace with no stops:
- New to exercise: about 3 hr
- I ride now and then: about 2 hr 16 min
- I ride most weeks: about 1 hr 41 min
Put in your own weight and fitness to see your time.
Ride Alpe d'Huez at home
In Couch to Climb, the plan for Alpe d'Huez is 14 weeks, with 3 rides a week on your smart trainer. It is climb 11 of 22. You start on Box Hill for free, then work up the climbs one at a time.
About the climb
The climb starts in Le Bourg d'Oisans, in the Romanche valley. The hairpins are numbered from 21 at the bottom down to 1 at the top. Each one is named after riders who won a Tour stage here.
The Tour first came here in 1952, when Fausto Coppi won. It was the first mountain top finish in the history of the race. The climb is also called the Dutch Mountain, because Dutch riders won eight of the first 14 finishes.
Riding it for real
The road ends in the ski resort, at about 1,860 m above sea level. After the first few bends, the slope stays much the same all the way up.
Questions about riding Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort in the French Alps, and the road up to it is one of the best known climbs in the Tour de France. It starts in Le Bourg d'Oisans and climbs through 21 numbered hairpin bends.
How many hairpins are on Alpe d'Huez?
There are 21. They are numbered from 21 at the bottom to 1 at the top, and each one is named after Tour stage winners.
Where does the Alpe d'Huez climb start?
It starts in Le Bourg d'Oisans, in the valley below, and ends in the ski resort of Alpe d'Huez.
Why is Alpe d'Huez called the Dutch Mountain?
Dutch riders won eight of the first 14 Tour de France stages that finished at the top.
Updated . Written by Next Big Leap Ltd, who make the Couch to Climb app.
Ride up a famous climb on your indoor bike
Couch to Climb is a step by step plan for a smart trainer at home. It takes you from the sofa to the top of a real climb, with no stops. Your first climb, Box Hill, is free.
