Classic Alpe d'Huez - The 21 Bends

This is one of the most famous sections of the Tour de France and during the summer months around 1,000 cyclists a day tackle the 21 bends.

It's a good idea to set off from Bourg de Osains and warm-up on the straight, flat roads of the Oisans valley before you will reach the foot of the climb. 

Starting from 737m, the first severe slope takes you to bend 21 at 1,806m and continues with a fearful climb up to bend 17 at 965m. Once you’ve passed this bend, you can recover on the 200m gentle slope crossing the village of La Garde.

The fittest can kick on here while most of us puff and blow until bend 15 at 1,025m where the gradient steepens again.

Bend 14 is marked with the monument dedicated to Joachim Agostino before a gentle slope will take you to Ribot d’en Bas. From here you’ll climb to the next hamlet, the imaginatively titled Ribot d’en Haut. 

Bend 12 welcomes you at 1,161m and the following bends 11, 12 and 13 will test your physicality and fitness.

From bend 5 to 2, you get back into the thick of it again until the crossing known as the Patte d’Oie crossing, where the three last bends are linked on a slope similar to the first part of the ascent to La Garde en Oisans.

The climb to the resort ends with bend 1 at 1,713m which is very wide, before you come out in Vieil Alpe and pass through the tunnel. Up by chalet Le Camigane you should see the red flame marking the last kilometre.