{"id":21212,"date":"2013-07-18T11:56:26","date_gmt":"2013-07-18T09:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/nothing-else-quite-compares-to-lalpe-dhuez\/"},"modified":"2013-07-18T11:56:26","modified_gmt":"2013-07-18T09:56:26","slug":"nothing-else-quite-compares-to-lalpe-dhuez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/nothing-else-quite-compares-to-lalpe-dhuez\/","title":{"rendered":"Nothing else quite compares to l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t \"With<\/a><\/p>\n

With 21 switchbacks over nine uphill miles, l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez is a truly iconic climb at the Tour de France. Photo: Christophe Pallot \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jim Caple from ESPN tells us why there is nothing else like the l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ever since Chris Froome<\/a> broke away on the stage eight climb to take control of the race, there hasn\u2019t been a whole lot of drama to rivet cycling fans to the TV for this year\u2019s Tour de France<\/a>. Even the team buses are now driving under the finish line banners without incident.<\/p>\n

But at least we should get a compelling stage Thursday when the riders race up the Tour\u2019s iconic climb, l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez.<\/p>\n

And in honor of the 100th Tour, they climb it twice.<\/p>\n

The Tour went up l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez<\/a> 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).<\/p>\n

And there is no better climb than l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez.<\/p>\n

There are higher climbs. There are steeper climbs. There are more grueling climbs. But the l\u2019Alpe 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The switchbacks also help. Each switchback is named for a cyclist who won a Tour stage on l\u2019Alpe d\u2019Huez, and seeing the names on those signs provides such inspiration that it\u2019s almost like taking an injection of testosterone \u2013 which is necessary because about halfway up, the demanding length of the ride really begins to kick in. \u2013 Jim Caple<\/a><\/p>\n

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