Alpe d’Huez is a terrible climb. It’s still enjoyable if you’re into that sort of thing, but it’s extremely monotonous, and a prime launchpad for watt-watching efforts. I truly believe you can get much the same experience by riding Alpe du Zwift and using your imagination. Without the throngs of fans by the roadside it feels sterile, not aided by the aspect, meaning it gets baked by the afternoon sun in its entirety. It's far better to ride down the Alpe, and ride up the Col de Sarenne instead.
The lesser known back way to the Alpe d’Huez ski resort is being used as an ascent for the first time in the Tour de France this year, as the penultimate ascent on stage 20 this Saturday. The stage is a beast, 170km in length with the Col de la Croix de Fer, the Col du Télégraphe and the Col du Galibier all coming before the hors catégorie Sarenne in the final 25km.
