The 10 Hardest Climbs in Tour de France History
The cycling Tour de France isn’t just a race—it’s a three-week saga of pain, glory, and landscapes that’d make even a koala forget its eucalyptus. Since 1903, the Tour has tested riders with climbs so brutal they’ve become folklore. From snow-capped peaks to sun-scorched moonscapes, these ascents separate the wheat from the chaff (or, in Aussie terms, the Steve Bradburys from the also-rans). Here are the 10 hardest climbs in bike tours of France history, ranked by gradient, length, and sheer suffering.
- Alpe d’Huez (13.8km at 8.1%)
The “Dutch Mountain” boasts 21 hairpin bends and a reputation for chaos. First introduced in 1952, its relentless 8.1% gradient has seen legends like Marco Pantani (1997) storm up in under 37 minutes. Crowds here are thicker than Vegemite, creating a wall of noise that either fuels riders or frazzles their nerves.
- Mont Ventoux (21.5km at 7.6%)
The “Giant of Provence” is a lunar-like grind where riders battle altitude, heat, and the ghost of Tom Simpson, who tragically died here in 1967. The final 5km average 9%, and the summit’s barren landscape offers zero shelter—just a white-knuckle fight against the elements.
- Col du Tourmalet (17.1km at 7.3%)
A Pyrenean beast featured in the cycling Tour de France since 1910. The Tourmalet’s 2,115m summit often decides the yellow jersey. Its slopes broke Eugène Christophe in 1913, who famously repaired his bike in a forge mid-climb. These days, riders still crack under its unrelenting 7.3% average.
- Col de la Loze (21.5km at 7.8%)
The “Queen of the Alps” debuted in 2020, linking Méribel to Courchevel. At 2,304m, its thin air and erratic gradients (peaking at 24%) left even Tadej Pogačar gasping. The final kilometre’s jagged concrete path feels like riding over a croc’s back.
- Luz Ardiden (13.3km at 7.4%)
Steeped in drama, this Pyrenean climb saw Lance Armstrong recover from a crash in 2003 to win the stage. Its narrow roads and 10% stretches in the final 4km make it a psychological minefield. Plus, the fog here rolls in quicker than a Sydney southerly.
- Hautacam (16km at 7.2%)
Another Pyrenean monster, Hautacam’s deceptive slopes hit 13% near the top. Miguel Indurain dominated here in 1994, but lesser mortals have been reduced to zig-zagging across the road—a tactic as effective as a screen door on a submarine.
- Col du Galibier (17.7km at 6.9%)
At 2,642m, the Galibier is the Tour’s highest paved pass. The thin air and 18km slog have shattered many a rider’s hopes. Henri Desgrange, the Tour’s founder, once called it “the Notre Dame of cycling”—prayers optional, suffering guaranteed.
- La Planche des Belles Filles (5.9km at 8.5%)
Short but savage, this Vosges climb ends with a 20% gravel stretch. Added in 2012, it’s become a modern classic. Chris Froome’s 2017 victory here was as gritty as a Bundy rum hangover.
- Plateau de Beille (15.8km at 7.9%)
A Tour staple since 1998, this Pyrenean brute averages 7.9% with no flat sections. Lance Armstrong called it “the hardest climb in the Tour,” and locals reckon the road’s so steep even goats take the bus.
- Puy de Dôme (13.3km at 7.7%)
A dormant volcano last featured in 2023, its narrow, winding road hosted the 1964 duel between Raymond Poulidor and Jacques Anquetil. The 12% gradients and eerie silence (no spectators allowed) make it a mental battleground.
Why These Climbs Define the Tour
The cycling Tour de France thrives on these ascents—they’re where tactics, grit, and raw power collide. While bike tours of France offer scenic spins through vineyards and châteaux, the Tour’s climbs are a different beast. They demand respect, punish mistakes, and immortalise those who conquer them.
So next time you’re tackling a hill on your morning ride, remember: it could always be worse. You could be on the Ventoux, praying for mercy and a stiff espresso.
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