It is the 21 most famous hairpin bends in the world that lead to the cycling Mecca of Alpe d'Huez. When the twelfth stage of the 109th Tour de France over 165.1 kilometres from Briancon to Alpe d'Huez takes place on Thursday on the French bank holidays, there will be a big showdown in the Alps.
Hundreds of thousands of fans will once again line the 13.8-kilometre final climb with an average gradient of 8.1 per cent and create a madhouse when Tadej Pogacar and Co. fight for victory. But even before that, the stage has plenty to offer. After the start in Briancon, the route leads over the 2642 metre high Col du Galibier and the Col de la Croix de Fer, all of which are mountains of the highest category.
Copyright 2022, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
