Famous Climbs
The legendary ascents of pro cycling — and every race in the library that's tackled them.
France
Alpe d'Huez
FranceAlps
The 21 hairpins. Cycling’s most famous amphitheatre.
4 races in the library →
Cime de la Bonette
FranceAlps
The roof of the Tour at 2 802 m.
1 race in the library →
Col d'Aspin
FrancePyrenees
Green, scenic Pyrenean pass.
5 races in the library →
Col d'Aubisque
FrancePyrenees
Pyrenean classic on the Circle of Death.
3 races in the library →
Col d'Èze
FranceAlpes-Maritimes
The Paris–Nice time-trial climb above the Riviera.
6 races in the library →
Col de Joux Plane
FranceAlps
Relentless climb above Morzine.
2 races in the library →
Col de la Croix de Fer
FranceAlps
Long, irregular Alpine pass crowned by its iron cross.
4 races in the library →
Col de la Loze
FranceAlps
The Tour’s modern monster, with wild gradient swings.
1 race in the library →
Col de Marie-Blanque
FrancePyrenees
Short but savage, with double-digit final ramps.
1 race in the library →
Col de Peyresourde
FrancePyrenees
A Pyrenean staple since 1910.
4 races in the library →
Col de Turini
FranceAlpes-Maritimes
Hairpinned giant above Sospel, used in the 2024 Tour.
2 races in the library →
Col de Vars
FranceAlps
Southern-Alps link between the Izoard and Bonette.
1 race in the library →
Col du Galibier
FranceAlps
A 2 642 m giant, a Tour de France cornerstone since 1911.
5 races in the library →
Col du Glandon
FranceAlps
Twin of the Croix de Fer with a savage final pitch.
6 races in the library →
Col du Granon
FranceAlps
Brutally steep — where Vingegaard cracked Pogačar in 2022.
1 race in the library →
Col du Portet
FrancePyrenees
The “super Tourmalet” — a brutal modern HC finish.
1 race in the library →
Col du Soulor
FrancePyrenees
Gateway to the Aubisque.
2 races in the library →
Col du Tourmalet
FrancePyrenees
The most-climbed col in Tour history.
6 races in the library →
Hautacam
FrancePyrenees
Exposed Pyrenean summit finish.
2 races in the library →
Hourquette d'Ancizan
FrancePyrenees
Quieter alternative to the Aspin.
6 races in the library →
La Planche des Belles Filles
FranceVosges
A modern Tour favourite, capped by a brutal gravel ramp.
2 races in the library →
Mont Ventoux
FranceProvence
The Giant of Provence — a lunar moonscape summit.
1 race in the library →
Mûr-de-Bretagne
FranceBrittany
Brittany's 'Alpe d'Huez' — a punchy Tour finish.
1 race in the library →
Pas de Peyrol (Puy Mary)
FranceMassif Central
The roof of the Cantal volcano.
2 races in the library →
Pla d'Adet
FrancePyrenees
Saint-Lary summit finish.
2 races in the library →
Superbagnères
FrancePyrenees
Long Pyrenean ski-station summit finish.
2 races in the library →
Italy
Aprica
ItalyAlps
Valtellina resort climb, often paired with the Mortirolo.
2 races in the library →
Blockhaus
ItalyApennines
The Apennine giant of the Majella.
1 race in the library →
Cipressa
ItalyLiguria
San Remo’s penultimate climb.
5 races in the library →
Colle delle Finestre
ItalyAlps
Gravel summit, scene of Froome’s 2018 raid.
1 race in the library →
Madonna del Ghisallo
ItalyLombardy
The cyclists’ chapel above Lake Como — Lombardia regular.
4 races in the library →
Monte Grappa
ItalyVeneto
A WWI monument mountain, used for the 2024 Giro time trial.
2 races in the library →
Muro di Sormano
ItalyLombardy
A 1.7 km wall averaging 17% — gradients painted on the road.
2 races in the library →
Passo del Mortirolo
ItalyAlps
Brutal, relentless — one of the hardest in Europe.
2 races in the library →
Passo Giau
ItalyDolomites
Steep, spectacular Dolomite climb.
2 races in the library →
Passo Pordoi
ItalyDolomites
Dolomite pass, often the Giro’s Cima Coppi.
1 race in the library →
Passo Valparola
ItalyDolomites
Dolomite pass linking to the Falzarego.
2 races in the library →
Poggio di Sanremo
ItalyLiguria
The final launchpad of Milan–San Remo.
5 races in the library →
Santuario di Oropa
ItalyPiedmont
Pantani’s famous chain-drop comeback climb.
1 race in the library →
Sestriere
ItalyAlps
Classic Giro ski-resort finish.
2 races in the library →
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
ItalyDolomites
Iconic Dolomite summit finish with 18% ramps.
1 race in the library →
Spain
Alto de El Gamoniteiru
SpainAsturias
The hardest climb the Vuelta has ever used.
2 races in the library →
Alto de Hazallanas
SpainAndalusia
Vicious Sierra Nevada ramp.
4 races in the library →
Alto de l'Angliru
SpainAsturias
The Vuelta’s monster — ramps to 23.5%.
2 races in the library →
Lagos de Covadonga
SpainAsturias
The Vuelta’s spiritual home in the Picos de Europa.
1 race in the library →
Los Machucos
SpainCantabria
Concrete wall with ramps over 25%.
1 race in the library →
Puerto de Pajares
SpainAsturias
Historic pass between León and Asturias.
2 races in the library →
Puerto de San Glorio
SpainCantabria
Long Picos de Europa pass.
1 race in the library →
Sierra Nevada (Hoya de la Mora)
SpainAndalusia
Europe’s highest road-race finish.
1 race in the library →
Belgium
Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons
BelgiumArdennes
Late decisive climb in Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
10 races in the library →
Kemmelberg
BelgiumFlanders
Cobbled crux of Gent–Wevelgem.
9 races in the library →
Koppenberg
BelgiumFlanders
Cobbled, narrow and up to 22% — riders walk in the wet.
20 races in the library →
La Redoute
BelgiumArdennes
The launchpad of Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
10 races in the library →
Mur de Huy
BelgiumArdennes
The savage finish of La Flèche Wallonne.
8 races in the library →
Muur van Geraardsbergen
BelgiumFlanders
The Kapelmuur — cobbled icon of the Ronde.
9 races in the library →
Oude Kwaremont
BelgiumFlanders
Long cobbled drag, decisive in the Ronde.
8 races in the library →
Paterberg
BelgiumFlanders
Steep cobbled berg, decisive in the Ronde.
16 races in the library →
Switzerland
Furkapass
SwitzerlandAlps
Iconic Swiss pass above the Rhône glacier.
1 race in the library →
Gotthard (Tremola)
SwitzerlandAlps
The cobbled Tremola — Switzerland’s most beautiful road.
1 race in the library →
Nufenenpass
SwitzerlandAlps
The second-highest paved pass in Switzerland.
2 races in the library →