Classic Cycle Routes in Alpe d'Huez - The 21 Bends

It's a good idea to set off from Bourg de Osains and warm-up on the straight, flat roads of the Oisans valley before you will reach the foot of the climb. Starting from 737m, the first severe slope takes you to bend 21 at1806 m and continues with a fearful climb up to bend 17 at 965m. Once you’ve passed this bend, you can recover on the 200m gentle slope crossing the village of La Garde.

The fittest can kick on here while most of us puff and blow until bend 15 at 1025m where the gradient steepens again. Bend 14 is marked with the monument dedicated to Joachim Agostino before a gentle slope will take you to Ribot d’en Bas. From here you’ll climb to the next hamlet, the imaginatively titled Ribot d’en Haut. Bend 12 welcomes you at 1161m and the following bends 11,12 and 13 will test your physicality and fitness.

From bend 5 to 2, you get back into the thick of it again until the crossing known as the Patte d’oie crossing, where the 3 last bends are linked on a slope similar to the first part of the ascent to La Garde en Oisans.

The climb to the resort ends with bend 1 at 1713m which is very wide, before you come out in Vieil Alpe and pass through the tunnel. Up by chalet Le Camigane you should see the red flame marking the last kilometer.

Bends : 21
Departure : 2,351 feet
Arrival : 6,100 feet
Difference in height : 3,749 feet
Length : 8,89 miles
Average steep : 7,9 %
Highest steep : 14 %
Climb record : 37’35’’
Average speed of 14,34 miles/h (Marco Pantani in 1997).