Few climbs are as iconic in the world of professional cycling as the 21 hairpin turns of Alpe d'Huez. Carved into the rugged landscape of the French Alps, this legendary ascent stretches approximately 13.8 kilometers (8.6 miles) and gains about 1,120 meters (3,675 feet) in elevation. The climb begins in the town of Bourg d'Oisans and finishes at the ski resort of Alpe d'Huez, which sits 1,860 meters (6,102 feet) above sea level.
Since its debut in the 1952 Tour de France, where Fausto Coppi triumphed over both the climb and his competitors, Alpe d'Huez has featured in 31 editions of the race. The names of the legendary conquerors of this mountain can now be found on every hairpin bend—a testament to the epic battles fought on its unforgiving slopes.
