Cycling in Alpe d'Huez — Routes, Climbs & Local Guide

Alpe d'Huez

Fausto Coppi blew "his opponents up like pieces of wood. One this way and one that way. And like pieces of wood, they were lost." It's the chronicle of a historic day for cycling: on July 4, 1952, the first uphill finish in the history of the Tour de France, on Alpe d'Huez, crowned "the Campionissimo." Many other historic uphill finishes would follow. From the victories of the Dutch riders (eight in the 1970s and 1980s) to the feat of Portugal's Joaquim Agostinho, Alpe d'Huez has always been home to the Tour.

Many of the greatest of all time have won up here: from Bernard Hinault to Gianni Bugno, then Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani. "Il Pirata" also set the three fastest uphill times ever: all under 37 minutes and 30 seconds. Cycling history continues to be made on the 21 hairpin bends of Alpe d'Huez: Tom Pidcock won in 2022, Demi Vollering two years later, and in 2026, two stages of the Grand Boucle will finish there.

Beyond being a legendary climb in itself, however, Alpe d'Huez is set in a fairytale setting: the Romanche River, the Écrins National Park, the Oisans Valley and the snow-capped peaks overlooking it constitute a true paradise for cyclists. Just a few pedal strokes from Alpe d'Huez, there are other legendary Tour climbs like the Galibier and Les Deux Alpes.

These names alone are enough to inspire anyone to embark on a memorable journey.

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Best time to ride

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The warmer summer months are the best for tackling climbs like the Galibier, Granon, and Croix de Fer. They rise well above 2,000 meters and are covered in snow for much of the year. Even in summer, there are plenty of cold or rainy days. On the other hand, it's quite warm in the valleys on some days. And an adventure at altitude, with a bit of cold and perhaps some snow to overcome, would be a great story to tell.

Where to stay

Base Towns

Bourg d'Oisans

A town of about 3,000 inhabitants, Bourg d'Oisans is located at the foot of Alpe d'Huez. Every time the Tour de France passes through the area, the town fills with cycling fans from all over. There are campsites, hostels, restaurants, hotels, and Airbnbs to suit everyone. It's not a resort town, so outside July it stays quiet, but there are enough restaurants and a well-stocked bike shop on the main street to cover the basics. The road to Alpe d'Huez starts at the eastern edge of town. You can also head south up the Villard-Notre-Dame or roll further down the valley toward Grenoble for flatter warm-up kilometres. Most riders base here specifically for those 21 hairpins, and the elevation sign at the bottom of the climb is about a ten-minute riding from the centre of town.

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Accommodations (10)

Places in Alpe d'Huez that welcome you and your bike.

Auberge du Freney

Le Freney-d'Oisans

An unpretentious hotel offering excellent value. It's located on the road between Col du Lautaret and Bourg d'Oisans and is perfect for a couple nights or a stopover during a cycling trip. It's run by a young and friendly couple.

Camping La Cascade

Le Bourg-d'Oisans

You pitch your tent 200 meters from turn 21, the first hairpin of the Alpe d'Huez climb. The site has hot showers and a choice between bare pitches for your own gear or wooden cabins if you want a bed after the ascent. You roll out of camp and straight onto the road.

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Cyclist riding through a scenic landscape

Cyclists riding together on a scenic road

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How to get there

By car: this is the most practical option. From Grenoble, head southeas through the Romanche valley to Bourg d'Oisans, about 60km. From Briançon, close to the Italian border, come west over the Col du Lautaret.
By train: The nearest train stations are Grenoble and Briançon, both served by TGV from Paris. From Grenoble, a bus runs to Bourg d'Oisans in summer, operated by Transisère. Pack your bike in a box if you're going by train, the bus has limited space and no guarantee they'll take a bagged bike.
By plane: No airport is particularly close to Alpe d'Huez. Grenoble airport is the closest but has limited routes, mostly seasonal charter flights. Lyon Saint-Exupéry and Geneva have more connections and are both around two hours by road. Turin is a similar distance if you're coming from Italy.

Bike Rentals (6)

Altitude Sports

Bike brands: Giant

Their rental fleet features a range of Giant carbon road bikes. Options include comfortable endurance models for first-time mountain rides, as well as high-end performance bikes built for long climbs, demanding mountain routes, and serious days in the saddle.