The best climbs in Europe in the Grand Tours

The top 30 cycling climbs in France, Spain, and Italy
 

This is a fantastic list of best bike climbs in Europe compiled by Thomson Bike Tours. Definitely one worth keeping. A dream list for those of us who love to experience climbs on a bike, and then sit back and watch the Pros tackle them on TV. Reminiscing and recognizing landmarks at every turn of the climb while saying out loud, "this is where it gets really steep". This is my kind of fun.
 

ThomsonBikeTours.com has now expanded their list to 50. If you would like to request a copy from them, send them your email at this link: Yes I want to tick off the best cycling climbs in Europe. 
 

click images to enlarge

I have completed 14 of the 30. I have a long way to go. This year a number of these climbs will be featured in the Grand Tours. So if you are not able to get over to France, Italy, or Spain to ride these climbs yourself, at least mark your calendars and tune in to listen to the cycling commentators (Phil & Paul of course) describe a few of the most wondrous places to be on a bike, on this planet.
 
Below are the climbs on this list above that are featured in either the 2011 Giro d'Italia and the 2011Tour de France: 

Related posts by Pedal Dancer: An Interview with Thomson Bike Tours
 

Best Climbs in Europe featured in the 2011 Giro d'Italia include:

Stage 14 Giro 

#1 on the list - Monte Zoncolan -
Saturday, 21 May 2011, Stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia
Location: Dolomites, north of Venice, Italy
Description: Very steep climb. #1 on the list. The last and final climb of stage 14!

Profile of Stage 14, 2011 Giro d'Italia

location of Monte Zocolan
for more pictures and maps see Pez Cycling's review of Giro d'Italia Stages 10-15

Stage 15 Giro
 
#25 on the list - Passo di Giau -
Sunday, 22 May 2011, Stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia
Location: north of Venice, Italy
Description: the forth of six passes in stage 15

Profile of Stage 15, 2011 Giro d'Italia

location of Passo di Giau
for more pictures and maps see Pez Cycling's review of Giro d'Italia Stages 10-15 

click images to enlarge 

Best Climbs in Europe featured in the 2011 Tour de France include:

Stage 12 TDF
 
#12 on the list - Col du Tourmalet -
Thursday, 14 July 2011, Stage 12 of the Tour de France
Location: Hautes-Pyrenees, France
Description: the second of three mountain passes over 209km ending on Luz Ardiden
Read PedalDancer.com previous post: Magnificent Day in the Hautes-Pyrenees (Horquettes d'Ancizan) Today I saw the Tourmalet bring a man to tears or More Pictures from the Tourmalet

AND

#24 on the list - Luz Ardiden -
Thursday, 14 July 2011, Stage 12 of the Tour de France
Location: Hautes-Pyrenees, France
Description: the final climb of stage 12, after climbing the east side of the Col du Tourmalet!
Read PedalDancer.com previous post: I was there that day on Luz Ardiden

Profile of Stage 12, 2011 Tour de France

location of Horquettes d'Ancizan to Col du Tourmalet to Luz Ardiden

PedalDancer.com on Col du Tourmalet 2003 TDF

Luz Ardiden 2003 

 click images to enlarge

Stage 13 TDF
 
#22 on the list - Col d'Aubisque -
Thursday, 15 July 2011, Stage 13 of the Tour de France
Location: Midi-Pyrenees, France
Description: a favorite of the Tour de France and often included
Read PedalDancer.com previous post: Dancing on the Pedals on 8% (Col d'Aubisque) or Lac d'Estaing, Col de Borderes, Col du Soulor (Col du Soulor)

Profile of Stage 13, 2011 Tour de France

location of Col d'Aubisque

Col d'Aubisque 2005

Summit of Col d'Aubisque 2010

Stage 18 TDF

#21 on the list - Col d Izoard -
Thursday, 21 July 2011, Stage 18 of the Tour de France
Location: from Italy through Briancon, Haute-Alpes, France
Description: a distant wind swept climb with lots of flies!

PLUS

#4 on the list - Col du Galibier (south/west side) -
Thursday, 21 July 2011, Stage 18 of the Tour de France
Location: near Grenoble, Haute-Alpes, France
Description: a grand climb in a spectacular setting, and mountain top finish 
Read PedalDancer.com previous post:  France Cycling - my ride up the Col du Galibier

Profile of Stage 18, 2011 Tour de France

location of Col Agnel to Col d"Izoard to Col du Galibier

PedalDancer.com on the Col d'Izoard 2007

My brother and I on the Col du Galibier in 2007

click images to enlarge 

Stage 19 TDF
 
#4 on the list - Col du Galibier (north/east side) -
Friday, 22 July 2011, Stage 19 of the Tour de France
Location: near Grenoble, Haute-Alpes, France
Description: following the Col du Telegraphe, a warm-up to the stage finish on Alpe d'Huez
Read PedalDancer.com previous post: Watching the Tour de France, Stage 18 and  Watching the Tour de France - Stage 19

PLUS

#19 on the list - Alpe d'Huez -
Friday, 22 July 2011, Stage 19 of the Tour de France
Location: near Grenoble, Hautes-Alpes, France
Description: all the mystique of the Tour de France in 21 glorious bends
Read PedalDancer.com previous posts:  "21 levels of hell", or 21 steps to heaven or France Cycling - My Ride up the Alpe d' Huez, and also Climbing Alpe d'Huez (2013), plus Climbs of 2012 Tour de France - Alps (2012)

The summit!

Profile climb of the Col du Telegraphe and then Col du Galibier

Riding from the Col du Telegraphe to Col du Galibier to L'Alpe d'Huez

At the summit (pass) Col du Telegraphe

Profile climb of L'Alpe d'Huez

On Alpe d'Huez looking down at the town of Bourg d'Oisans.  
©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

21 switchback corners on Alpe d'Huez - they just keep coming!
©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

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Image of the day: Hourquettes

Picture of the Day - Hourquettes d'Ancizan

The summit of the Hourquettes d'Ancizan, above the town of Arreau in France, on the way to the Col d'Aspin in the Pyrenees. Definitely a recommended ride - Magnificent!

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Magnificent day in the Haute-Pyrenees

Today was(is) a great day in France

Stage 9 of the Tour de France was really good to watch today, I am a fan of Andy Schleck. Again there were more changes in the GC order and some surprises (poor Cadel Evans - it looked like his loss of the yellow jersey today hurt in both mind and body). Plus any day I see Paddy Sweeney on the road in the Pyrenees is a good day! 

My day started with homemade yogurt at the very nice charme Chambre d'Hote Chez Annie et Loic where I am staying in Guchan. I then headed out the front door, on my bike, in the cool morning mist. A few km down the road I began the climb up the Hourquettes d'Ancizan. The Hourquettes is a small feeder road that adjoins the Col d'Aspin, I had heard about the climb over the years and never managed to do it until today. It was well worth the wait. Combined with a loop ride up and down the Col d'Apsin, this is now one of my favorite climbs in France (third to Mount Ventoux, and the combo of Col du Soulor and Col d'Aubisque).

It was a great day on the bike. Two very nice fit Belgian men came upon me on the climb and decided they would pace me to the top. I sat on their wheel and felt perfectly cared for. We all shouted out in celebration at the summit. On top I again saw a nice French man who had passed me earlier in the climb. We had chatted for a bit because we had the same bike (a Scott CR1). I waved to him at the top and as he passed me again on the descent, he came by and exclaimed loudly, "I love you! You are very very nice". I burst out in laughter trying to steady my bike. The Horquettes are surprisingly beautiful, definitely one of my new favorite places. 

As the road joined onto the West side of the Col d'Aspin, I happened upon a small collection of cafes, ready for a coke, I pulled over. I heard a clear, "Karen!", I looked over to see Paddy Sweeney from VeloPeloton in Saint Savin where I stayed 2 weeks ago (don't get this place confused with VeloPyrenees. VeloPeloton.com = great, VeloPyrenees.com = terrible). I was so happy to see Paddy again. He is certainly a comfort to be around and seems to turn up in the best places. 

I sat with Paddy and some of his guests on the Raid Pyrenees tour he was leading (pictures from the Raid). In perfect weather I felt no need to rush on. After a good rest, the group headed toward the east side of the Tourmalet and I headed up the west side of the Col d'Aspin. At the top of the Col I had a flat tire (my first of the trip). Again a very nice Belgium man helped me with my tire and chatted. He said that this is the way of cyclists; that we help each other. The descent off the East side of the Col d'Aspin is fantastic (although I wish I could have gone at full speed, but without knowing the real pressure of my tires, I took it easy).

Horquettes Ancizan to Col d Aspin loop bike ride

Ancizan to Col d Aspin to Arreau - a perfect loop ride

Location of the ride in the French Pyrenees

I returned to the Chambre, prepared a lunch, and happily watched the Tour de France online. It was a great race today. 

Some pictures from the day:
Looking down from the Hourquettes to the town of Guchan where I am currently staying (middle left of the photo). St-Lary-Soulan is down valley. Pla d'Adet (think George Hincapie's big TDF win in 2005) is up to the right. Loudenvielle and Col d'Azet is over to the left. 

One (1of 3) of the nice men from Belgium descending the Hourquettes d'Ancizan on the way to the Col d'Aspin:

A nice hidden gem of a road (the locals want to keep this a secret from the TDF):

I should have taken a picture of Paddy and his tour crew. I also should have taken a picture of me covered in road dirt and grease after changing my innertube. Not the cleanest tire repair job I've ever done, but memorable. 

So far I have really enjoyed the Irish, Dutch, and Belgians I have met, plus every French person always says Bonjour! I have only met one other American cyclist during my 3 week span in France. One of the Belgian men asked me today, "Do the Americans come here to ride?", "no, they stay home," I said. Then we laughed. I feel really fortunate to be here.
[I will add a post later tonight about my last 3 days, since I was off the grid with very limited internet for awhile. And also had a not so good day yesterday. At least today made up for the last few days.]

*post post note: here are some pictures from the VeloPeloton.com Raid Pyrenees Tour

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