Biggest & best climbs of the Tour de France 2021

Riders are unlikely to have given their little chainrings much use until they reach the small but mighty ascent of the Signal d’Uchon in the south east corner of the Morvan Regional Natural Park. Making its debut in the 2021 Tour de France, the 5.7 km climb has a sting in its tail with the final two kilometres pitching up to 9.4% and 13.1% respectively with a maximum gradient of 18%. As the longest stage of the entire race (and indeed the longest stage in 21 years at 248 km / 154 mi) between Vierzon and Le Creusot, we’re expecting a fierce battle for the polka dots before the race heads into the Alps.

First featured in the Tour de France in 1960, the Col de la Colombiere is making an appearance for a 23rd time in the race. Starting the climb from Scionzien, the 16.3 km pass averages 6.8% and (much to the chagrin of the peloton,) it gets steeper as they climb. As the first stage in the Alps proper, we’re already on the edge of our seats in anticipation of the first shots to ring out from those looking to make their GC ambitions known.

Summit finishes are a sight to behold as riders launch attacks on streets usually lined with fans urging their favourites to dig deep and grind their way to a stage win. A huge day in the saddle awaits the peloton as they wind their way up the Col du Pre, the Cormet de Roseland, and finally the Montée de Tignes. Recall the 2019 edition of the race, where you might remember a freak landslide upset proceedings on the descent into Tignes. Well, this year sees riders ascend the very same 21 km stretch of tarmac. Stage 9 will be the first opportunity for the general classification riders to use their legs in the mountains.

The ‘Giant of Provence’ is back under the wheels of the Tour de France peloton in 2021. After Chris Froome swapped his wheels for his running shoes following a collision with a motorbike in 2016, we’re prepping our popcorn in anticipation of another dramatic stage up Mont Ventoux in 2021. The route for stage 11 includes the first ever double ascent of the Bald Mountain. Starting from Sault, the first ascent begins up the longest (but most gentle) side of the mountain after which riders descend into Malaucène, skirt the foothills of Ventoux, and then endure their final ascent from Bédoin. It’ll be a nerve-wracking final 20 km as riders showcase their descending skills before reaching the finish line in the now familiar town of Malaucène.

No journey into the Pyrenees is complete without riding through Andorra, a place many professional riders call home thanks to its high altitude mountains. Stage 15 of the 2021 Tour de France will begin with short and shallow climbs before riders weave their way up to the highest point of the entire race at the summit of Port d’Envalira at 2408 m (7900 ft.) At this point in the race, we can expect the group of yellow jersey contenders to be whittled down to just a couple of riders, so it’ll be an important stage for increasing the lead.

Yet another summit finish will grace our screens during stage 17 of the 2021 Tour de France. Though the route starts off somewhat benign, the real test comes in the final 65 km of the stage. Three consecutive and iconic cols will send heart rates sky high as the peloton ascends the Col du Peyresourde, the Col de Val Louron-Azet, and then the Col du Portet, whose summit will surely be home to a rememberable finale. At just under 18 km at an average of nearly 8%, this summit finish will be a force to be reckoned with.

The final mountain stage of the Tour before riders make their way to the Champs Elysses is not to be missed. Despite a relatively short distance at just 130 km, it’s the last chance for the GC riders to use their climbing legs to fight for the yellow jersey. Similar in distance to the climbs in earlier stages, the Col du Tourmalet is a real icon of the Pyrenees and a favourite among amateur and professional cyclists alike. The 85th appearance of the mountain pass will see riders ascend from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, flying up gradients peaking at 10%. Will the riders leave it all on the Tourmalet or will they save their attacks for the final climb up to Luz Ardinen?