Tour de France features Col du Galibier twice in 2011

Whilst the recent scattering of snow has got us all excited about winter sports, a recent press release has fast-forwarded us into next summer! It has been announced that the Tour de France will commemorate a 100 year anniversary by including the Col du Galibier, not once, but twice in the mountain stages.

It will mark 100 years since the col (French for ‘mountain pass') was first included in the Tour and it now holds the status of being the Tour's most climbed mountain. At an altitude of 2645 metres, it will be the highest finishing point in next year's event.

On Thursday 21st July the 18th stage will set off from Pinerolo in Italy at 354 metres; riders will pass over a series of high altitude cols before arriving at Serre Chevalier via the Col du Galibier. It will be the first time that either Pinerolo or Serre Chevalier have been featured as stage towns.

On the following day the 19th stage will depart from Modane (1057m) before making a very short, steep climb back up and over the Col du Galibier to the famous resort of Alpe d'Huez (1850m). Modane is another newcomer to the Tour, but Alpe d'Huez is an old favourite, having been a stage town on 26 previous occasions! The steep 21 bends up to the resort are a classic mountain stage and the atmosphere is fantastic, with Tour fans lining the streets and waving flags hours in advance – get there early to bag a good spot!

In other cycling news...

Italy's answer to the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, has also announced Alpe d'Huez as a stage in 2012. It will be the first time that the town has featured in the race and will coincide with the 60th anniversary of its first inclusion in the Tour de France when, coincidentally, it was won by Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi.