cycling Alpe d'Huez - Bourg d'Oisans

I hate this climb so much! It was the last climb I did on a climbing holiday in the alps with my bike that was built in 1972. I broke a spoke after the 3rd turn and had to remove a rear brake block to let the wheel turn enough for me to continue. The drivers are not as friendly as they are on other climbs and the road is just unreal the way its so steep. I was trying to climb it in under an hour and failed to do so, then on the decent my front brake blocks started melting and I thought my tubular tyre was going to explode from the heat of the rim. I had to cool the rims down with water at every turn and to keep them cool I would try not to use my brakes on the strights. I thought I was going to die on the decent and was tempted to walk down but it was getting really dark and the camp site was far from the bottom of the hill. I could not loose enough speed for the last corner and went round it Moto GP style using the full width of the road and even onto the shoulder on the turn exit, then cried a little at the bottom. looking forward to next year, 5 stars

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

So now Ive done it. After tacking the Galibier in the morning I did the Alpe in the afternoon on my sturdy Trek Mountain Bike with lots of cogs, teeth and cranks. No idea how many of each I have mind. I made it to the top of course and I cant see what all the fuss is about - its an easy climb if you stop at every corner, take a picture of the signs, have a drink, look at the views take a few more pictures and then poodle off again. Time taken? Over 2 hours. But I do have lots of photos.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I did this on the ski bus a few times last year, 30 mins. My knees were a bit sore because the seat in front was too close, and I was desperate for the toilet and I spilt some hot chocolate on my ski jacket, but the views are nice. :P Wouldnt want to do it on a bike though. Looks mental.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

One of my favourite ever climbs just behind Mont Ventoux and the Angliru. Did it in May 2008 when i was 13 in a time of 56:48 at the end of a week of cycling over the croix de fer, glandon etc. Tough at the beginning and had a small amount of drink and every time i got out of the saddle i needed a huge gulp of it so forced myself to sit down for most of it. Recommend it to anyone who enjoys cycling to do this historic climb.

My personal climb rating: 4 stars

I did this climb with a tour in 2003, after riding over the Galibier earlier in the day. That was a hot summer; while I didnt find the Galibier too tough (in fairness, we started after the Telegraph climb), as it was relatively cool, Alpe dHuez, which was much hotter, nearly killed me. My tongue was dragging on the pavement. I was so zonked I actually lost the route once I got into town near the top. I eventually found the finish, rode back down, and pretty much fell off my bike next to the tour bus. Wiped out. Lance didnt look much better the next day (though of course he was going 2x as fast as I had been)- that was Lances ""off"" year.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

This is history! You can feel it in the village, you can feel it on every hairpin, this is simply a mecca for cyclists. I decided to see how far up I could go on my big ring and made it the 4th hairpin and keeled over and died. Rest of journey was 39x23, more lactic acid but turning that big ring was no longer possible. The climb is not as beautiful as La Plagne or the Roseland but if you decide to try the Alpe you will see for yourself what a pilgrimage it is and why

My personal climb rating: 4 stars

Second time so far, first time set off too settled as heard stories of some people dropping after 5Km, 1:15. Last year did it in very humid weather, set a fair pace from start and stuck to it 1:07. Looking to break the hour this year, but, where is the top? Last year I went past the cafe with the 12 Km line next to the cycling shop and a couple of other riders that I was trying to catch stopped and got off with people cheering, I cycled through and under the tunnel to where my speedo said 13.3 km at the square, but couldnt remember where I stopped my speedo last time. I looked for that last bend on the tour but couldnt find it. Noticed I had now done the 13.8Km set in so stopped with the time of 1:07, Any directions please. I went up a few days after the tour, it was fantastic with all the names on the road esp Carlos Sastre. I got to the cafe for a coffee but the weather started coming in, set off back in a thunder storm and then took cover in a waste hut 3km down with some Dutch, Once the worst had passed we set off. To keep myself warm and brakes dry I cycled down all the way with the brakes on (anyone done that before?). Going in mid August this year camping again but think tour isnt doing it this year.Any tips appreciated.

My personal climb rating: 4 stars

Climbed the Alpe twice from Bourg DOisans on July 19, 2008 and again on July 23, 2008 (prior to TdF Stage 17) as part of a 16 day cycling vacation in the French Alps. This is the mythical climb, steeped with history and the battles fought on this 8 mile (13 kms) stretch of asphalt, made it the stuff of legends. Although, not the longest, hardest or most scenic of the climbs in the Alps. Perhaps, because of its history in the TdF - its is at the top of every climbers list. And after 1 hrs 20 mins. from the start (no stops), Success!! Climbed the Alpe again to watch stage 17 live - it was fantastic, beat my first time by 2 mins - 1 hr 18 mins. Climbing up the Alpe again while it was closed to cars & both sides lined with thousands of fans was incredible, a once in a lifetime experience! After getting to the top, I found a great spot about 500M away from hairpin 1. I was standing right at the 2 km to go banner with a lot of Aussie fans. Saw Sastre blowing everyone away on the climb, it unreal how fast these pros are going uphill! All in all, an unbeliveable experience, this alone made the trip worthwhile. Cheers.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I climbed this in early October with my eldest son and my father who is 75. We enjoyed good weather and wondered if anyone knew the age of the eldest person to finish this climb

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

My wife and I went to France June 2008 to attend a relatives wedding. I told her if Im going all the way to France Im going to climb Alpe dHuez. I rented a bike in Bourg dOisans and rode up on June 5,2008. There was a charity ride going on were the riders were doing the ride over and over. The bike I rented was a little to small and I had a wicked back ache about half way up. I had to stop for 6 minutes until the pain went away. This is one steep road. The coolest part was at the top where it is not as steep I could ride pretty fast and about 100 people were cheering as I finished. I felt like Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. It took me 1hour 40 minutes. Not very fast but I am 56 years old.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

Climbed alpe dhuez on a wendnesday after driving from mont ventoux which we climbed twice on the monday and tuesday. Cuz it took nearly 4.5 hrs to get there i hit the climb with no warm up what so ever (not recommended) with the aim of riding it as fast as possible (individual time trial). The steepest bits at the bottem felt fine and i felt great up until the village of huez, then it got hard. i tried to keep a good rythem and cadence and got to the top trying to look as slick as possible. i did the climb in 50 mins with an average power of 285 watts (taken from a powertap). Fantastic and sureal experiance.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I climbed lAlpe dHuez 8 times on one day, the 5th of June 2008. Average climb time: 01:14:58. This was all part of a fundraising event for the Dutch Cancer Society (no one in his right mind would climb it 8 times otherwise). Now an annual event, which goal is to climb the Alpe 6 or more times for individuals or relay-teams, called Alpe dHuZes (Dutch for Alpe dHuSix). After 8 climbs on one day, you kind of know every meter by heart. LAlpe dHuez is not the most beautiful climb, yet I have come to love it.

My personal climb rating: 4 stars

At the end of May I drove all the way from northern England - arrived at Bourg dOisans at five oclock in the afternoon. At seven oclock I set out for my first alpine ride - Alpe dHuez. The first ramp was quite hard and I remember thinking ""I hope this is part of the climb and not just the lead up. I was relieved to see the first hairpin marker - number 21. It stays steep up to 18 and then relents a little. Depending on the wind direction some of the ramps feel quite easy. I made a point of reading all the bend markers - but this was only to get the maximum relief at each bend. It was very eerie at the top riding into a totally deserted Alpe dHuez. One hour and twenty minutes - I am not a very good climber.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I did the climb 4 times during the last week in May 08. An extremely hard but spectacular climb. First time is hard to keep going and pace yourself managed 1 hour 12 minutes 40 seconds - the last time I did it in 1 hour 7 minutes 20 seconds. A definite mountain to climb for all keen cyclists.

My personal climb rating: 5 stars

I did the Alpe twice, once on the North side, and once on the South side. I climbed the North side the day of the TdF ITT in July 2004. I left the village of Vizille and rode 40km to climb the backside, and made my way to a magical spot between turns 2 and 3. There, right before my eyes, my group and i watched Lance pass Basso to claim the Alpe dHuez ITT stage victory and almost assure himself #6. Coming off the backside, I hit my maximum speed on a bike, 58 mph. Two days later, I was able to return anc climb the South (classic) side. I am pretty big for a cyclist, 66" and 240 lbs, but managed 1.5 hours to the Arrivee.. including shooting pics all the way up, and negotiating a crowd in the streer 1 km from the finish. Not bad for a big ol guy! All in all, a great July 2004 trip to remember.. and photos to boot!

Ive climbed the Alpe only twice. Once in 2004 the day before the Tour TT on that same mountain, and once in 2006 in the spring. The first time felt a bit easier, although there was much traffic on the climb and so pace was slowed. The second time I really felt its full force, and although I bested my previous time, I definitely suffered. All in all, the Alpe is a beautiful climb that any cycling enthusiast must try. I was happy with my 27 tooth cog the first time, and on my second ascent I used a 25 but with a compact crank set on the front.

The most famous of all the climbs. I just did it with the tour, it is an amazing experience clycling with so many people at the same time. We did it the same day as the tour. It is harder that what I tought, do not be fool by the 7.7% is more like 8.5%, the percantage lowers because the turns at the switch backs are flat, but the climbing part is steeper. I managed in about 1 hr and 10min, it was very hot (101 F), humid and too many people. Recomend a compact crankset and 25-27 sprocket. I saw Carlos Sastre at the end of the stage and he was using a regular cranckset and a 27 sprocket.

I climbed the Alpe dHuez 6 times. The first time was in 2002 on 30th of april. First I wanted to make a trip in holland for 3 days, with my other bike and luggage. I wanted to train for my trip to Munich later that year, but because of bad wetter in Holland I decided to go to the Alpe. I had heard about it from the Tour and I thought this was a good training as well. When I came to le Bourg dOisans, the first thing I did was to go by car up to Alpe dHuez. The way up was very steep, and I had doubts if I could do it. But when I came back at the hotel, I decided to try it. The first 200 or 300 hunderd meters of the climb went very well. I was cycling 42x17, but that was to hard after 500 meters :-) In the beginning I had the strength, because of a lot of fitness, but after 500 meters I had to shift quickly down to 30x23. With the 30x23 I rode the rest of the climb and I was very exhausted on the top. But I made it without taking a break on the way. Later that year, in july I didnt went to Munich but again to the Alpe dHuez. I was addicted. In july I went up set a time. The first time I forgot to reset my bike computer. This time I didnt go to fast in the beginning, but it wasnt easy as well. I came in 1 hour and 14 minutes at the top. In 2002 I weighted 87kg, because of a lot of fitness training. In 2003 I weighted 72kg and my stamina was improved. I had trained a lot in the winter and I was planning to go to the Alpe dHuez together with Hennie Kuiper (winner of Alpe dHuez in the Tour de France of 1977 and 1978)and 500 other cyclists. I had plans to set a time under 1 hour. But before I went to the Alpe, I had first a wedding of my sister. After the wedding I went directly to France. When I came at the Alpe, I wasnt fit. But still I could manage a time of 1 hour and 5 minutes. Later that year I rode the Marmotte and a few days later the Alpe dHuez again. This time a set a time under 1 hour. 56 minutes. I was in a very good sheap. In 2004 I went again to the Alpe dHuez, but I didnt train as hard as last year. I knew I couldnt beat my best time. I wasnt giving 100% that day and I came relatively fresh at the top. My time was 1 hour and 9 minutes. The last 1,5km I had an average speed of 18km/h

In may 2006 a group of 500 cyclists are doing the Alpe, sponsored by a dutch newspaper. If you speak dutch you can follow all preparations, trainings, interviews and stories on the podcast WielerJournaal. For more information go to www.wielerjournaal.nl!