Today is exactly one month until the start of the Tour de France 2022 For the men. Hopefully we’ll see a little less idiots along the way this year, although that’s probably just wishful thinking. If only Ms. ‘Allez Opi & Omi’ had learned her lesson. As with her many imitators. Fortunately, there are other things making the news this year. Like the beautiful climbs and the many other stories from the peloton. Who will win? Which rider is the big loser? Where will dreams shatter? Who is the revelation? The course won’t be the deciding factor, certainly not the beautiful climbs. There are again plenty of nice stretches of asphalt found in the French, Swiss, Danish and Belgian (!) country. An international tour, that’s for sure. Here are the 5 most beautiful climbs in the Tour de France 2022. Entirely arbitrary, that’s for sure.
Super Planche des Belles Filles (Stage 7)
The story of Planche des Belles Filles has probably been told a thousand times already. This climb in the Vogezen For a number of years, this has been an almost annual finish in the first or early second week of the Tour de France. Although, one Primoz Roglic had hoped that he would never encounter this climb in the penultimate stage of the 2020 edition. Perhaps the most unfortunate day of his life. The same day that his compatriot Tadej Pogacar established himself firmly at the head of the peloton. With the addition of the final extra steep stretch (and the word ‘Super’) to the name, this is a finish climb that everyone will be aiming for. As an amateur, you will have to put up a good showing here, because with a maximum gradient of 22.9 percent, you are completely out of your depth.
Col de la Croix (Stage 9)
For several years now, the UCI has been organizing the Gran Fondo Switzerland. From its headquarters in Aigle, a group of enthusiasts gathers. Valais Alps in order to make a beautiful round over the Col de Pillon, Col de Mosses and to climb the Col de la Croix twice. It is the home hill of our explorer and friend Alain Rumpf, but above all it is a beautiful new challenge for the riders in the peloton. If you want to conquer it yourself, you don’t have to wait for the Gran Fondo Suisse, but you can almost always do it (unless it’s raining). is snowing) Climb it. Only during the Gran Fondo is the road closed, which is quite convenient. It’s a relatively short climb in this variant, but one with over five kilometers above eight percent and with a pre-run as the Col de Mosses and a post-run as the finish climb. This is a wonderful climb to write down.
Lacets de Montvernier (Stage 11)
The laces of the Montervernier. That is the literal translation, or at least that is how you could translate the name of this climb. When you look at the climb, it is also a kind of lace that stretches through an imaginary shoe. You could also see spaghetti in it, but the French and the Italians would not be honored by that. If the climb were in Italy, of course, but in France, non monsieur. The climb is not exceptionally long, let alone extremely challenging in terms of elevation. It is the beauty and the location that make it worthy of a mention on the list.
Galibier (stage 11 and stage 12!)
Not just one, but even two times, the peloton’s riders climb the Galibier. This Alpine giant needs no introduction. In the eleventh stage of the 2022 edition, the climb will be more decisive than in the twelfth stage, when the climb is almost climbed out of the start. Nevertheless, it is one of the more beautiful climbs and always (literally and figuratively) a highlight of the Tour. Also because of the bizarre altitude (2642 meters above sea level) and the length of the climb (at least 35 kilometers, although you have to also count the Telegraphe, the classic combo). Want to know everything about this climb? Check out our classic ride over the Galibier. Then you know everything right away!
Hautacam (Stage 18)
In the Pyrenees there are a number of classic finishes. The finish at the top of Hautacam consistently ranks in the top 5 of the most beautiful finishes in a road race. Already in an earlier article I brought back my memory of Bjarne Riis. Monsieur Soixante showed his class here in 1996. Well, he showed how to ride the best in that era. It’s not a steep climb, with an average below eight percent, but the irregularity is the reason this is a perennial in the Tour. Or we actually already know the answer to that question: No, because Nibali will only ever ride the Vuelta as a grand tour and will stop racing professionally after 2022.
Bonus tip: Cote de Genner (Stage 2)
Denmark is anything but flat. This year the Tour de France starts in Copenhagen. In the second stage (after the time trial and the first stage in a line), they arrive in the beautiful Sonderjylland. There are some wonderful climbs there. The Cote de Genner is a nice nod to all the Cotes and Cols that are part of the tour. Not only the decoration is worth seeing; the surroundings, the road to get there, and the descent towards Aabenraa are definitely recommended too! Will you be joining us?
Questions & tips
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