Stage 19

Stage 19 of Le Tour takes the riders 128 kilometres from Gap to Alpe d’Huez. The iconic finish climb boasts 21 hairpins, spans 13.8 kilometres, and climbs at an average gradient of 8.1%.

Suited to: climbers and GC Contenders, compact route, legendary final climb

Straight from the flag the riders tackle a sharp 'warm-up' climb. The Col Bayard rises for 4.7 kilometres at an average gradient of 7.2%. Immediately after the descent, the Col du Noyer adds 7.2 kilometres at 8.5% to the mix. Ouch, that's one way to start a day out in the mountains.

After the descent, the route eases off for a stretch. The riders spend several dozen kilometres on gently rolling roads. The only real interruption is the climb from Lac du Sautet after 52 kilometres, which rises for 2.7 kilometres at 6%, but otherwise the route is fairly uneventful through this section.

The prelude to the finale occurs when the Col d’Ornon throws in 5.4 kilometres averaging 6.4%. On the other side of the mountain lies Bourg d’Oisans, the traditional starting point of the ascent to Alpe d’Huez. On this side, the riders tackle the famous 21 hairpin bends, climbing 13.8 kilometres at 8.1%. The toughest sections come in the first 2 kilometres, as well as the tenth and eleventh.

The last male rider to win in a Tour de France stage in Alpe d’Huez was Tom Pidcock. In 2022, he soloed to victory from the breakaway. Two years ago, Demi Vollering claimed a bittersweet victory by putting more than 1 minute into Katarzyna Niewiadoma after a gripping game of cat and mouse. It was enough to secure the stage win, but she missed out on the overall title by just 4 seconds.