Although smaller climbs were parts of the program since the beginning, and both the Pyrenees (1910) and the Alps (1911) were intruduced to the race during the pre-WW1 period, there were no hilltop finishes at the Tour de France till 1952.
Alpe d’Huez ( in the Western Alps) was a ski station in the first half of the 20th century. But a local artist, Jean Barbaglia had the idea, that it would be a great place for a cycling race too. He persuaded one of the hotel owners to lobby the Tour de France organizers: it migh be worth to try something new out.
Up to Alpe d’Huez there was only one road, therefore a stage couldn’t end anywhere else, only on the top of the hill.
And the idea of “hilltop finish” was born.
The 10th stage of the Tour de France 1952 ended with the vistory of Fausto Coppi. Jen Robic attacked at the foot of the hill, only Coppi could follow him. Soon Robic dropped and Coppi delivered a solo victory on this historical day.
The program of Tour de France 1952 included three hilltop finishes. Besides Alpe d’Huez (10 th stage), also Sestriere (11th stage) and Puy de Dôme (21st stage). Fausto Coppi won all of them.
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