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Cycling Climbs Races Vuelta a España

Alto de l’Angliru: the hardest climb in cycling’s Grand Tours

Alto de l’Angliru, also known as La Gamonal is a very steep mountain road in Asturias, near La Vega-Riosa, in northern Spain. Dubbed as the “hardest climb in the Vuelta a España“, where it is often used, the Angliru is considered one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing.

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Cycling Climbs History and Legends Races Tour de France

Top 200 fastest climbs on the Alpe d’Huez [All-time list] [2022 update]

L’Alpe d’Huez is a ski resort at 1,250 to 3,330 meters (4,100 to 10,930 ft) in the Central French Western Alps, in the commune of Huez. The maximum elevation of the legendary climb is 1,815 meters (5,955 feet). The climb is used regularly in the Tour de France, including twice on the same day in 2013. Despite it is certainly not the toughest climb in the French Alps and in Europe, it is one of the most iconic climbs of the Tour de France. Here are the top 200 fastest climbs on the Alpe d’Huez.

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Races Cycling Climbs

Stelvio Santini Challenge On Rouvy: Conquer The Virtual Stelvio From November 30

From November 30 to June 6 next, the Rouvy indoor cycling app is hosting the Santini Stelvio Challenge, a virtual event spanning all three of the Granfondo’s climbs. Special badges for all finishers plus the chance to win real Santini prizes!

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Cycling Climbs

Is Your Beard Slowing You Down?

Around 33% of Americans have facial hair, as well as many cycling legends like Bradley Wiggins and Dan Craven. However, there is a widespread belief that any body hair at all negatively impacts aerodynamics, which could actually slow you down as you ride. It may only make the tiniest difference, but over long distances, it could add up and cost a cyclist first place in a competition. If you are a passionate cycler but love your facial hair, then you are probably wondering if there is an effect at all and, if so, how big that effect is. A beard is a great way to stay warm during winter cycling, but is it having an effect on your time?

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Cycling Tourism Cycling Climbs Training and Nutrition

Riding the Gems of Mallorca

Mallorca also spelled Majorca, is known as a paradise for cyclists who year after year descend on the island in their thousands. They’re attracted by the country’s unique cycling challenges and breathtaking views. The roads are smooth, winding, and diverse featuring mountain climbs, country lanes, and undulating roads that are a pleasure to ride.

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Cycling Climbs Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

Monte Zoncolan

One of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, Monte Zoncolan is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It has been used in the Giro d’Italia six times (2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2018) and in the Giro Donne (Giro d’Italia Femminile, rebranded in 2013 as the Giro Rosa), once (1997).

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Cycling Climbs Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

Montevergine di Mercogliano

Montevergine is located near Avellino, in the comune of Mercogliano, in Campania, central Italy. The mountain is a limestone massif and part of the Apennine chain. Under the peak, at some 1,270 meters, is the Sanctuary of Montevergine (see notes 1), where the climb ends.

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Cycling Climbs Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

Mount Etna

Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. With a height of currently 3,329 meters / 10,922 ft (this varies with summit eruptions), it is the highest active volcano in Europe outside the Caucasus, and also the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps. To date, the Giro d’Italia has visited the volcano four times, three times to the Rifugio Sapienza and once to Piano Bottaro lower down. The last visit was in 2017, where Jan Polanc, the Slovenian rider of UAE Team Emirates won stage 4, as the last survivor of a four-man breakaway. The fifth visit will be in the 2018 edition.

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Cycling Climbs Races Vuelta a España

Bola del Mundo

Bola del Mundo, also known as Alto de las Guarramillas is a mountain of the Guadarrama mountain range located in the Community of Madrid in Spain, near the border with the province of Segovia. Its height is 2,257 meters (some sources give it 2.265 meters). It is one of the hardest climbs ever seen in pro cycling. Despite its modest average gradient of 6.2%, the climb gets really hard in the final kilometers where the average gradient is always above 10% and at some points, it gets as steep as 19%.

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History and Legends Cycling Climbs Giro d'Italia

Merckx vs Battaglin on Monte Carpegna, 1973 Giro

If you watch Jørgen Leth’s great documentary about the 1973 Giro d’Italia, “Stars and Water Carriers” (Stjernerne og vandbærerne), you may remember Merckx vs Battaglin battle at stage 8 on Monte Carpegna.

On one of the early climbs of the day, Eddy Merckx escaped bringing Spanish climber José Manuel Fuente (KAS) and the young Italian Giovanni Battaglin (Jollj Ceramica) along for company. Foolishly, Fuente took his pulls with the powerful Belgian and after having burned his matches, was spit out the back.