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51 posts in Famous routes
Col de la Croix de Fer: 29 km from Saint-Jean and how to ride its broken rhythm
The classic north side from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, village by village: the gorge tunnels, the dip before Saint-Sorlin and the last 6 km at 8–9%, with pacing, water points and season.
Col de la Madeleine from La Chambre: 19 km at 8% with nowhere to rest
The Maurienne side of the Madeleine, with its steepest kilometres at the start: how it is built, how to pace it, its Tour history since 1969, and when the pass is open.
Col d'Izoard from Briançon: an easy valley, then 7 km at 8%
The north side of the Izoard kilometre post by kilometre post, how to pace a climb that saves its work for the end, and why you should ride over the top to the Casse Déserte.
Col du Tourmalet from Luz-Saint-Sauveur: 19 km of 7.5% and a sting at the top
The west side of the Tour's most-climbed col: how the steady climb through the Barèges valley rides, how to pace it, its history since 1910, and the mornings it is closed to cars.
Télégraphe and Galibier from Saint-Michel: 35 km, two climbs, one plan
How to ride the full climb from the Maurienne to 2,642 m: an easy Télégraphe, a pause in Valloire and a strong finish above Plan Lachat, plus the season and the car-free mornings.
Mont Ventoux from Bédoin: the forest decides it, the wind finishes it
The classic side of the Ventoux in three parts, from the easy run to Saint-Estève through 8 km at 9.4% to the bare summit, with the tourist office's advice on heat, wind and the descent.
Alpe d'Huez: 21 bends, 14 km, and why the first two hurt most
The official figures, bend by bend, from Le Bourg-d'Oisans to the resort, how to pace a climb whose steepest part comes first, and the history behind the names on the hairpins.
Etna from Nicolosi: 19 km up Europe's highest active volcano
The Giro's most iconic road up Etna, from Nicolosi to Rifugio Sapienza at 1,910 m: how the irregular gradient rides, how to pace it, and what wind, heat and the volcano ask of you.
Madonna del Ghisallo from Bellagio: a steep start, a false flat, and the cyclists' chapel
The Il Lombardia climb above Lake Como, section by section: where the 14% is, how to ride the false flat at Civenna, and the loop over the Muro di Sormano.
Monte Grappa by the Strada Cadorna: 25 km, a false flat, and a memorial at the top
How the 1916 military road from Romano d'Ezzelino climbs in two halves, how to pace a climb with its hardest part first, and what waits at the Sacrario on the summit.
Passo Falzarego from Cortina: 17 km of steady climbing to the Lagazuoi
The Dolomites' gentle giant: more than 900 m from Cortina, never steep. How to ride it at a steady tempo, the First World War sites at the top, the Giau loop, and the GPX to ride it on your trainer.
Passo Fedaia: the straight above Malga Ciapela, under the Marmolada
Nine easy kilometres from Caprile, then five of the hardest in the Dolomites, starting with a 3 km straight at 12%. How to arrive fresh and ride it under your limit, the Giro's history, and the GPX.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: 7 km from Misurina and a 12% finish
A short climb with a long climb's sting: four kilometres at 12% to the foot of the three peaks. How to pace it, the toll road and access rules, Merckx's 1968 ride, and the GPX to ride it indoors.
Sella Ronda: four Dolomite passes in one loop, and how to pace them
Pordoi, Campolongo, Gardena and Sella around the Sella group, about 51 km and 1,700 m. How the loop rides anticlockwise from Canazei, how to pace and fuel four climbs, the car-free Bike Day, and the GPX.
Passo Giau: 29 hairpins and 10 km that never let up
From Selva di Cadore to 2,236 m at more than 9% almost the whole way. How the forest and the slopes above Rifugio Fedare ride, how to pace an hour at threshold, the Giau–Falzarego loop and the GPX.
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