The history of mountain passes in the Tour de France: challenges and legends on two wheels
The Tour de France and its iconic mountain passes have been the stage where some of the most legendary feats in cycling have been forged. Since its first edition in 1903, the carrera has gradually increased the toughness of its routes, including climbs that have marked the history of road cycling and served as inspiration for cyclists of all disciplines, including mountain bikes in long-distance and ultramarathon competitions.
The first foray into the mountains was at the Col de la République, but soon even greater challenges were sought. In 1905, the Ballon d'Alsace became the first major pass in the event, climbing up to 1,247 meters in the Vosges mountain range. This pass paved the way for future exploits that today inspire both road cyclists and MTB enthusiasts who seek to conquer the most demanding summits on their own routes.
The Tourmalet and the conquest of the Pyrenees
The Tour de France found its first great mountain challenge in the Pyrenees in 1910. It was journalist Alphonse Steinès who, with a "telegraphic lie," convinced the organizers that it was possible to cross these mountains with road bikes, when in reality he nearly lost his life to hypothermia while inspecting the Col du Tourmalet. That year, the route included a brutal stage of 326 kilometers with the climbs to Peyresourde, Aspin, Aubisque and Tourmalet, setting a new standard for the toughness of the carrera.
Since then, the Tourmalet has been the scene of epic battles starring the best climbers in history. Today, this pass remains a challenge for any road cyclist seeking to push their limits on routes with major elevation gain and long distances. In addition, its difficulty has served as a benchmark for many mountain bike events in marathon and ultra-endurance formats, where endurance is key to overcoming high mountain terrain.
1911: The arrival of the Alps to the Tour de France
A year after the conquest of the Pyrenees, the Tour decided to raise the difficulty by including the Alps, the massif with the highest peaks in Europe. In 1911, the Col du Galibier became the first great Alpine giant of the carrera, reaching 2,550 meters of altitude and challenging cyclists with ramps of up to 14% gradient.
This pass, along with others like the Izoard, Croix de Fer, Madeleine or Alpe d’Huez, has become a benchmark for road cyclists seeking demanding routes. At the same time, the Alps have given rise to mountain bike competitions, with events that include long ascents and technical descents on highly difficult trails, showing that these mountains are not only a challenge for the asphalt, but also for MTB enthusiasts.
The mountain: the essence of the Tour and of cycling
From the first challenges in the Col de la République to the conquest of the Col de la Bonette-Restefond, the highest pass of the Tour at 2,802 meters, the mountains have been undisputed protagonists in the history of cycling. For any cyclist, whether road or mountain, these passes represent the essence of effort, strategy, and personal achievement.
Today, the legendary passes of the Tour de France remain a reference for those seeking the thrill of great climbs, whether with road bikes on panoramic routes or with mountain bikes tackling technical trails and extreme descents. Ultimately, the history of the mountains and cycling continues to be written, with new challenges for each generation of cyclists.
Tuvalum Team
