List of highest points reached in the Tour de France information
The highest point of elevation ever reached in the Tour de France is 2,860 m (9,383 ft) at the Cime de la Bonette loop road in the Alps (as of 2019[update]), seen here from the northern ascent of the Col de la Bonette mountain pass.
The Tour de France is an annual men's multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France, generally considered the most famous bicycle race in the world.[1] It was founded by the French sports journalist and former professional road racing cyclist Henri Desgrange, who became the first director of the race.[2] He was passionate about taking the Tour up to the highest reachable points of elevation in the Alps and Pyrenees using the most difficult routes.[3]
The highest point of the first Tour de France in 1903 was the summit of the 1,161-metre-high (3,809 ft) Col de la République mountain pass in the Mont Pilat area of the Massif Central highland region. The following year the route remained identical, but in 1905 and 1906 the Tour moved into the Alps, in particular the Dauphiné Alps, and up to the Col Bayard at 1,264 m (4,147 ft). The 1907 Tour took the race higher, up to 1,326 m (4,350 ft) with the Col de Porte in the Chartreuse Mountains. This point was again the highest for the next two Tours.[4]
The race first reached high altitude[a] on the ninth edition in 1910 when it passed the 2,115-metre-high (6,939 ft) Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees.[6][7] Not satisfied with that height, Desgrange the following year introduced his favoured Col du Galibier in the Alps, which summited at 2,556 m (8,386 ft) via a single-laned 365-metre-long (1,198 ft) tunnel that first opened in 1891.[8][3] At the time, Desgrange eulogised over the Galibier in comparison to the Tourmalet and other climbs, saying: "Oh Sappey, oh Laffrey, oh Bayard, oh Tourmalet! I will not shirk from my duty in proclaiming that compared to the Galibier you are no more than pale and vulgar babies; faced with this giant we can do no more than tip our hats and bow!"[9] The Galibier was the highest point of elevation in each Tour to 1937, which led it to become one of the most iconic climbs in the race.[10] The 1938 race went higher up to the Alpine Col de l'Iseran at 2,770 m (9,088 ft).[6][11] Various Alpine passes, including the Galibier, were the highest points reached in Tours until the 1962 race saw a new high of 2,860 m (9,383 ft) at the Cime de la Bonette in the Alps, a short loop road which forks from the summit of the Col de la Bonette.[12] As of 2019[update], this remains the highest point of elevation reached by the Tour de France. Since 1962, all the highest points of Tours bar one have remained above 2,000 m (6,562 ft), using passes in the high Alps and Pyrenees.
^Hanold 2012, p. 13.
^Heijmans & Mallon 2011, p. 66.
^ abFriebe & Goding 2017, p. 191.
^Augendre 2019, pp. 181–199.
^Hoffman 2014, p. 382.
^ abCossins 2013, pp. 50–51.
^Augendre 2019, p. 194.
^Augendre 2019, p. 183.
^Friebe & Goding 2017, p. 192.
^Pickering, Edward (21 July 2011). "The Col du Galibier: The Tour's most iconic climb (video)". Cycling Weekly. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
^Augendre 2019, p. 184.
^Bacon, Ellis (15 March 2016). "Col de la Bonette". Cyclist. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
and 30 Related for: List of highest points reached in the Tour de France information
TourdeFranceListofhighest railways in Europe Listof mountain passes Principal passes ofthe Alps Transport in Europe Gobba di Rollin - highest location...
The 2023 TourdeFrance was the 110th edition oftheTourdeFrance. It started in Bilbao, Spain, on 1 July and ended with the final stage at Champs-Élysées...
TheTourdeFrance (French pronunciation: [tuʁ də fʁɑ̃s]; English: TourofFrance) is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race held primarily in France...
The 2005 TourdeFrance was the 92nd edition oftheTourdeFrance, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place between 2–24 July, with 21 stages covering...
The mountains classification is a secondary competition intheTourdeFrance, that started in 1933. It is given to the rider that gains the most points...
The 2014 TourdeFrance was the 101st edition ofthe race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The 3,660.5-kilometre (2,274.5 mi) race included 21 stages, starting...
The 2017 TourdeFrance was the 104th edition oftheTourdeFrance, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The 21-stage race took place across 3,540 km (2,200 mi)...
The 1970 TourdeFrance was the 57th edition oftheTourdeFrance, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place between 27 June and 19 July, with 23 stages...
The 2011 TourdeFrance was the 98th edition ofthe race. It started on 2 July at the Passage du Gois and ended on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 24 July...
The 1999 TourdeFrance was a multiple stage bicycle race held from 3 to 25 July, and the 86th edition oftheTourdeFrance. It has no overall winner—although...
The 2004 TourdeFrance was a multiple stage bicycle race held from 3 to 25 July, and the 91st edition oftheTourdeFrance. It has no overall winner—although...
The 2016 TourdeFrance was the 103rd edition oftheTourdeFrance, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The 3,529 km (2,193 mi)-long race consisted of 21 stages...
The 2007 TourdeFrancethe 94th running ofthe race, took place from 7 to 29 July. TheTour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional...
Global Information