Alpe d’Huez, France — The legendary climb of Alpe d’Huez, known for its chaotic atmosphere and dedicated fans, recently hosted Stage 19 of the Tour de France. This year, organizers made the pilgrimage more appealing by scheduling Stage 19 up the main path and Stage 20 up the Col de Sarenne, with riders finishing the final four kilometers of the traditional Alpe. This rare two-for-one opportunity drew hundreds of thousands of fans to the mountain.
The Alpe d’Huez climb is 13.8 kilometers long with an 8.1 percent grade, featuring 21 hairpin corners that create a natural arena for spectators. Reports indicated that 600,000 people gathered on the sides of the Alpe, with some arriving over a week in advance. French police closed car traffic more than 24 hours before the race, leading to many stragglers arriving on foot or by bike.
A Unique Spectacle
The atmosphere on Alpe d’Huez is often described as unparalleled in sports, with crowds six times larger than those in major traditional stadiums, spread across nine miles of road. Despite the financial accessibility of attending the Tour de France, the logistics of watching a stage on Alpe d’Huez demand significant dedication from fans.
The passion of the crowds translates into a vibrant and intense environment. Spectators were seen hauling large speaker sets, groups in costumes singing, and others dressed as traffic cones directing imaginary traffic. Tents were pitched on any available patch of ground, and by midday, the crowd was described as rowdy after a night of celebration.
The mountain transforms into a festival, with fans showing support for well-known riders like Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas, as well as lesser-known figures such as Frits Biesterbos, Liam Slock, and Brent Van Moer. Even a tribute song for Austrian rider Felix Gall, who was not participating in the Tour, was heard blaring from speakers.
The mass frenzy on Alpe d’Huez can be challenging to manage. Despite efforts by gendarmes to barrier off traditionally boisterous areas like the Dutch corner, the excitement remained widespread. The unique atmosphere of Alpe d’Huez, where fans can get close to the riders for free, is a key draw for the Tour de France. However, this environment can also impact the race itself.
Race Incidents and Pogacar’s Victory
During Stage 19, an incident occurred approximately six kilometers from the finish when a fan fell in front of the UAE team car. This caused the car to brake suddenly, leading to Einer Rubio colliding with the back of the vehicle. Remco Evenepoel, who was in second place, attempted an attack but was reportedly blocked by motos.
Tadej Pogacar ultimately won the Alpe d’Huez stage, extending his overall lead in the Tour de France to more than seven minutes. His victory on the legendary climb was achieved despite rumors of illness within his UAE Emirates XRG team. Pogacar’s climbing time of 35 minutes and 26 seconds reportedly surpassed Marco Pantani’s 1997 record by over a minute.
Pogacar expressed satisfaction with breaking the record, stating that a record standing for over 30 years being broken was positive for his team. His sports director, Matxin Fernández, was visibly emotional following Pogacar’s performance. The win further solidified Pogacar’s position, and with one final mountain stage remaining, he appears poised for overall victory in Paris.
The victory on Alpe d’Huez reinforced the idea that the Tour is often decided on this climb. With 25km left in the race, a breakaway group held a lead of almost four minutes. However, Pogacar caught and overtook them within three kilometers of the finish. His decisive acceleration came 12km from the summit, leaving rivals behind. After briefly joining forces with teammate Adam Yates, Pogacar went solo with 10km remaining.
The damage to his rivals was significant, with Remco Evenepoel remaining in second place overall but with diminished hopes of challenging for the final victory. Evenepoel and Pogacar’s teammate, Isaac del Toro, are now the only riders within 10 minutes of the race leader. Pogacar has secured five wins in 19 stages, with a chance for a sixth in Saturday’s “queen” stage over four challenging Alpine climbs.
Source: defector.com
