hilltop finish

Alpe d’Huez, the instant classic

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Legenday Tour de France mountian Alpe d'Huez first hilltop finish 1952 Fausto Coppi and Jean Robic riding together

There is a simple reason, why Alpe d’Huez was introduced to the Tour de France only in 1952, while the race visited the Alps since 1911 frequently: there is only one way up to the top, hence the stage must be finished there. But the concept of a hilltop finish wasn’t born yet. Indeed, the … Read more

Ocaña and Zoetemelk doubled on the top of Puy de Dôme

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Lucien van Impe and Joop Zoetemelk on the Puy de Dome Tour de France 1976

Between 1952 and 1988 Puy de Dôme was included into the program of Tour de France 13 times. Among the winners on the top are Fausto Coppi, Felice Gimondi, Federico Bahamontes  Lucien van Impe, Luis Ocaña or Joop Zoetemelk. In fact, the two latter are those riders, who were able to win a Puy de … Read more

Puy de Dôme first time at the Tour de France (1952)

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Fausto Coppi at the Tour de France 1952

1952 was an extraordinary year in the history of Tour de France, not only because the terrific performance of Fausto Coppi. But also, it was the first time, when a Tour de France stage ended on the top of the ascent: this was the legendary debut of Alpe d’Huez. The program of the 39th Tour de … Read more

Vintage cycling image of the day: Charly Gaul on Mont Ventoux

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Charly Gaul on the Mont Ventoux during the individual time trial at the Tour de France 1958

Charly Gaul won the 21 km moutain time trial up to the top of Mont Ventoux at the Tour de France 1958. Although nowadays Mont Ventoux is usually known by its legendary mountain top finishes, on its first three appearances (1951, 1952, 1955) at the Tour de France the peloton crossed the summit only during … Read more

Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond on the top of L’Alpe d’Huez (Tour de France 1986)

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Vintage image of cyclists on the top of the hill riding side by side hand in hand.

Alpe d’Huez witnessed plenty of legendary moments since its introduction to the Tour de France in 1952. One of them is the famous 18th stage in 1986,  when Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond reached the top hand in hand.

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The first hilltop finish of Tour de France

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Legenday Tour de France mountian Alpe d'Huez first hilltop finish 1952 Fausto Coppi and Jean Robic riding together

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 … Read more

8 July 1971 Luis Ocana won in Orcieres-Merlette

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Orcieres-Merlette 1971 Luis Ocana

Orcieres-Merlette (or Orcieres Merlette 1850), the ski resort in the Alpes was introduced to Tour de France during this edition. Not only the 11th stage finished here, but also the peloton spent the rest day and the 12stage started at the place.. The 134 km long stage from Grenoble was won by Luis Ocana. He … Read more