Alpe d’Huez is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) at an average of 8.1% from Le Bourg-d’Oisans (about 2,430 ft / 740 m) to the Tour de France finish at 6,102 ft (1,860 m): 3,675 ft (1,120 m) of climbing over 21 hairpins. That is the version the Tour and Wikipedia use.
What the climb is like
The hairpins are numbered backward: 21 is the first one as you leave the valley, and 1 is close to the resort. Each one carries plaques with the names of Tour stage winners on the climb. The first 1.2-1.9 miles (2-3 km) are the hardest, at more than 10%, and you hit them cold. After that the grade settles around 8%, and the finish through the resort streets is easier. The steepest pitch is between 11 and 14% depending on the source.
A note on the numbers
The figures change depending on where you start and finish: Climbfinder gives 8.7 miles (14 km) and 3,681 ft (1,122 m) to 6,040 ft (1,841 m); cols-cyclisme gives 9.1 miles (14.6 km) at 7.6%; and CyclingCols measures to the very top of the resort (10.2 miles / 16.4 km and 4,196 ft / 1,279 m to 6,549 ft / 1,996 m). We use the Tour version. We do not publish a segment profile because the sources only describe the distribution roughly.
Its history in the Tour de France
Alpe d’Huez was the first summit finish in Tour de France history, in 1952, won by Fausto Coppi. Since 1976 it has been almost a fixture: Wikipedia counts 32 stage finishes. Winners here include Bernard Hinault (1986), Andy Hampsten (1992), Marco Pantani (1995 and 1997), Carlos Sastre (2008), Thibaut Pinot (2015), Geraint Thomas (2018) and Tom Pidcock (2022). In 2004 it hosted a 9.6-mile (15.5 km) time trial.
Pantani held the record for almost 30 years: 37:35 in 1997, measured from 9 miles (14.5 km) before the finish. On stage 19 of the 2026 Tour, Tadej Pogačar took it down to 35:26.
When to go, water and traffic
The road leads to a ski resort and is open all year. In summer the lower section is in full sun and very hot: start early. There is water in the village of Huez, next to the church, and at the top you have every service. La Marmotte gran fondo finishes here. Nearby are the Col de Sarenne (another way up or down), the Croix de Fer and the Galibier via the Lautaret.
What gearing to use
Most riders get up with a 34x30 or 34x32. At 3 W/kg (watts per kilogram of body weight) and 159 lb (72 kg), you ride about 6.8 mph (11 km/h) on 8% and 5.6 mph (9 km/h) on 10%: with a 34x30 that is about 77 and 63 rpm. Run the numbers for your bike in the gear calculator.
Tips
- Warm up first: the steepest ramps are in the first kilometer.
- Use the hairpins to count down: 21 turns, roughly 0.4 miles (650 m) apart on average.
- Drink in Huez if it is hot; the final stretch through the resort feels long.
Reference times
| Rider | Time | Year | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tadej Pogačar | 35:26 | 2026 | Tour de France, stage 19. Fastest recorded ascent (other sources give 35:27). |
| Marco Pantani | 37:35 | 1997 | Tour de France, timed from 14.5 km (9 miles) before the finish, as it was measured back then. |
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb Alpe d'Huez?
A 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 1 hr 16 min at 3 W/kg (216 W), 1 hr 31 min at 2.5 W/kg and 58 min at 4 W/kg. Work out your own time with your weight and power in the calculator on this page.
How many hairpins does Alpe d'Huez have?
Twenty-one. They are numbered from 21 at the bottom to 1 at the top, and each one has plaques with the names of Tour de France stage winners on the climb.
What is the Alpe d'Huez record?
Tadej Pogačar rode it in about 35:26 at the 2026 Tour de France, beating the mark Marco Pantani had held since the 1990s.
Where is the hardest part of Alpe d'Huez?
In the first few kilometers above Le Bourg-d'Oisans, with grades over 10%. The finish, through the ski resort, is easier.