With its introduction to Tour de France in 1952, Alpe d’Huez became one the most iconic ascents of the race instantly. Although it has a shorter history than the big giants like Col du Galibier or Col d’Izoard, there are plenty moments worth to remember.
Let’s see five really iconic moments from the common history of Alpe d’Huez and Tour de France.
Fausto Coppi conquers Alpe d’Huez (1952)
Alpe d’Huez always seemed to be a great place for a spectacular race, with only one little obstacle. Only one road leads up to the top, thus the stage must end there. Before 1952, no Tour de France stage finished ever on the top of a mountain. It was time to introduce the idea of a hilltop finish, what proved to be one of the most successful inventions in the history of the race.
On the 10th stage in 1952, Jean Robic attacked first, only Fausto Coppi could go with him and drop him soon after. Coppi, who dominated the race, won the stage, also the other two other hilltop finishes of Tour de France 1952.
Crash on Alpe d’Huez (Tour de France 1977)
Lucien Van Impe won the Tour de France in 1976 and was still in game for the overall victory in 1977 before the 17th stage.
Riding in the polka dot jersey, he attacked on the Col du Glandon successfully, and started to climb Alpe d’Huez first.
Unfortunatelly he collided with a car and lost important seconds while waiting for the teamcar to repear his bike.
A non-European amateur victory (Tour de France 1984)
During the 1980s, amateur teams were invited to the Tour de France. Road cycling was a far less global sport, European cyclists dominated in all kind of road cycling races.
Luis Herrera was born in Colombia, lived at high altitude all of his life. Therefore he had a natural advance toward the majority of the riders in peloton. His victory on the top of Alpe d’Huez was a big surprise, however, he proved to be an excellent and successful climber during his professional years either. He became the second rider (after Federico Bahamontes) to win the King of the Mountains competitions of all three Grand Tours (Tour 1985 and 1987, Vuelta 1987 and 1991, Giro 1989).
Herrera was an early bird of the successful lines of Colombian climbers at Tour de France.
Hand-in-hand through the finish line (1986)
Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond, the two La Vie Claire riders dominated the Tour de France in mid-1980s. Hinault won his 5th TDF title in 1985, although LeMond could have win the race too, if the team management would have made different decisions at a certain point of the race.
Before Tour de France 1986, Hinault publicly pledged to help LeMond during the race. But their relationship still remained complicated.
On the 18th stage Hinault (lost the yellow jersey on previous stage) and LeMond (took the lead on previous stage as the first American ever to wear the yellow) rode together at the front of the race during most of the day.
Hinault won the stage, and jumped to the second place behind Eddy Merckx on the list of the riders with most TDF stage victories. Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France.
More on the story Hinault and LeMond together on the top of Alpe d’Huez>>
Winning in yellow jersey (Tour de France 2018)
Although mountain stages which included Alpe d’Huez proved to be pivotal in the fight for the overall victory of the race, and some riders claimed the yellow jersey on this very, famous ascent, it’s happened only in 2018, that an actual yellow-jersey-man crossed the finish line first on the top of Alpe d’Huez.
Geraint Thomas took the lead on the previous stage (11th) with a little bit of surprise victory. He repeated his success on the next day, making him the only rider to win an Alpe d’Huez stage while wearing the yellow jersey.
Thomas, as we remember it very well, also won the Tour de France that year.
More Tour de France in the Alps on PelotonTales
Another day in the Alps (Tour de France 2023 Stage 14)
14th Stage15th July 2023Annemasse -Morzine Les Portes du Soleil151, 8 km LIVE TEXTING DURING THE STAGE CLICK HERE TO REFRESH THE PAGE
Ottavio Bottecchia on the Izoard (Tour de France 1925)
Col d’Izoard was introduced to Tour de France in 1922. It seems to have been the new favourite of the organizers, they put it in the program also in the next 5 years. (And it is still one of the most used ascent in the history of Tour de France) Ottavio Bottecchia might have been … Read more
19 July 1977 Lucien Van Impe ‘s crash on Alpe d’Huez
One of the oddest images from the history of Tour de France pictures Lucien Van Impe after the crash with a motobike on Alpe d’Huez on 19th July 1977. The Belgian cyclist won the Tour de France in 1976, and had a chance to repeat his success in the subsequent year. Before the 17th stage … Read more
Col d’Allos at Tour de France
Col d’Allos was part of the program of Tour de France since the race visited the Alps for the very first time in 1911. Especially during the 1920s and the 1930s was very popular. In the second half of the 20th century it was used muvh more rarely. 1911: François Faber 1912: Octave Lapize 1913: … Read more
More iconic cycling moments on PelotonTales
Crash on the Tourmalet (Tour de France 1937)
Col du Tourmalet was included in the program of the 15th stage alongside with its good old companies: Col de Peyresourde, Col d’ Aubisque and Col d’Aspen. The 194 km long stage between Luchon and Pau was won by Julian Berrendero. Sylvére Maes extended his lead in the GC against Roger Lapebie. A few days … Read more
Bartali and Coppi together in the Dolomites (Giro d’Italia 1940)
Vitange cycling image of the day on PelotonTales: Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi in the Dolomites at Giro d’Italia 1940. Before Giro d’Italia 1940, Gino Bartali was already two-time Giro d’Italia (1936, 1937) and one-time Tour de France (1938) winner. He was the leader of the Legnano team in 1940, but had an ambicious and … Read more
Charly Gaul on the Monte Bondone (Giro d’Italia 1956)
Cycling in extreme weather: Charly Gaul on the famous stage 20 up to Monte Bondone at the Giro d’Italia 1956 Race director Vincenzo Torriani was asked to cancel the stage due to the rough weather conditions were forecasted. But he declined it, he may have thought, this could make the unexciting race exciting again. … Read more
Iconic Cycling Images: Bernard Thévenet after a crash (Tour de France 1972)
The race in 1972 was Bernard Thévenet’s second Tour de France. In his devutant year, in 1971 he finished fifth in the general classification and also won stage. It was a bit of a surprise performance, but in the subsequent year he was considered as one of the favourites. The 7th stage of Tour de France … Read more