The first summit finish in Tour de France history back in 1952, raised to mythical status thanks to the exploits and popular fervour on its 21 hairpins bends, and climbed 32 times by the men, the testing ascent to Alpe d’Huez (13.8km at an average gradient of 8.1%) boasts an impressive and revealing palmarès, including the names of Fausto Coppi, Joop Zoetemelk, Bernard Hinault and Marco Pantani. Dutch champion Leontien van Moorsel won twice here, in 1992 and 1993, on the now-defunct Grande Boucle Féminine, and her compatriots will be trying to draw inspiration from her to make this “Dutch mountain” for the women as it has been for the men.
- Mountain resort in Isère (38) attached to the municipality of Huez
- Population: 1,400; 10,750 within the 19 communes comprising the Oisans municipality; 1,262,000 in Isère