The 2013 Tour de France, like every tour previously, will
have a major focus on the French Alps.
This year’s double climb up the Alpe d’Huez will receive much discussion
among commentators, teams and fans alike.
The Alps are world-famous and stunning to all who view the great
peaks. The Alps stretch over eight countries
and 750 miles. Many Alpine peaks are
well over 4,000 feet with the highest summit being Mont Blanc in France at over
15,000 feet. There are over 14 national
parks in the range with Austria and Italy each contributing four.
The French Alps take center stage each year during Le Tour. The French Alps (Alpes françaises) are divided into nine
chains and then further divided into ranges with each range having a high
summit classification. Alpe d’Huez is
located in the Dauphine Alps chain and within the Grandes Rousses (“Big Red”)
range. The highest point is Bayle Peak
at just over 11,000 feet. Alpe d’Huez is
a ski resort with a peak of 10,930 feet.
The mountain has over 155 miles of trails and nearly 90 lifts. The resort held the bobsled events during the
1968 Winter Olympics hosted by the nearby French city of Grenoble. The French Alps have also hosted the Olympics
in 1924 (Chamonix) and 1992 (Albertville).
The Tour first came to the Alpe d’Huez in
1952 and has been a part of every tour since 1976. The climb is 8.6 miles,
incorporates 21 distinct hairpin turns and has a ascent of nearly 8%. The fastest non-doping time up the demanding
route was 38:23 set by Germany’s Jan Ullrich in 1997. The grueling climbs of the mountain stages
have led many to say that “the Tour is won in the Alps.” This year will should be no different.
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