Nothing else quite compares to l’Alpe d’Huez MyZA

With 21 switchbacks over nine uphill miles, l’Alpe d’Huez is a truly iconic climb at the Tour de France. Photo: Christophe Pallot / Getty Images

Jim Caple from ESPN tells us why there is nothing else like the l’Alpe d’Huez.

Ever since Chris Froome broke away on the stage eight climb to take control of the race, there hasn’t been a whole lot of drama to rivet cycling fans to the TV for this year’s Tour de France. Even the team buses are now driving under the finish line banners without incident.

But at least we should get a compelling stage Thursday when the riders race up the Tour’s iconic climb, l’Alpe d’Huez.

And in honor of the 100th Tour, they climb it twice.

The Tour went up l’Alpe d’Huez for the first time in 1952, and the climb became a regular fixture in 1978, generally featured in the race every other year. I wish they not only would ride it every year but almost every stage as well (though the cyclists probably would disagree with that).

And there is no better climb than l’Alpe d’Huez.

There are higher climbs. There are steeper climbs. There are more grueling climbs. But the l’Alpe is special, in large part due to its 21 switchbacks that twist up approximately nine miles, gaining 3,700 feet in elevation, with thousands upon thosuands of fans lining the route.

The consistent gradient allows a rider to settle into a steady rhythm, which does not make the climb easy, but it does make it manageable.

The switchbacks also help. Each switchback is named for a cyclist who won a Tour stage on l’Alpe d’Huez, and seeing the names on those signs provides such inspiration that it’s almost like taking an injection of testosterone – which is necessary because about halfway up, the demanding length of the ride really begins to kick in. – Jim Caple