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news
Alpe d'Huez Bourg d'Oisans (copyright TheColCollective.com)Video: Mike Cotty takes on Alpe d'Huez for The Col Collective
The Col Collective has released its latest video, and it features perhaps the most famous Alpine climb in cycling, with Mike Cotty tackling the 21 hairpins of the Alpe d’Huez.
First featured in the Tour de France in 1952 when Fausto Coppi won there, it was back 12 years later as a climb in the middle of a stage, and again in 1976, when it once again hosted a stage finish.
Since then it has welcomed the race on 25 occasions, included in the race roughly every other year.
The last two times it figured saw the home nation’s blushes spared. Pierre Rolland won in 2011 and Christophe Riblon did so in 2013, when the climb was tackled twice, marking the sole French stage wins on those editions.
Cotty says: “If the truth be known I owe a lot to the rockstar ascent that is Alpe d’Huez, along with its equally impressive neighbours the Glandon and Galibier.
“Back in 2003 it was the lure of these legendary peaks that gave me my first real taste of the mountains as I nervously lined up for La Marmotte not really knowing what I was getting myself into.
“I remember rolling into Bourg d’Oisans and feeling my stomach summersaulting with fearful excitement at the gargantuan size of the mountains surrounding me.
“You could feel the energy they possessed, like the walls of a Roman amphitheatre staring down at a gladiator about to go into combat.
“I’ll never forget that moment, eventually carving my way up the 21 bends to the summit of Alpe d’Huez.
“We’ve come a long way since then but this is, and always will be, where the dream began. Peace.”
Alpe d’Huez vital statistics
Start: Bourg d'Oisans
Length: 13.2km
Summit: 1,850m
Elevation gain: 1,108m
Average gradient: 8.1%
Max gradient: 13%
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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16 comments
Well I really enjoy them and look forward to them. As someone who has limited opportunities to get out there and ride the classic cols I think the short films are a great resource. Keep 'em coming Mike !
I love how he smashes past people who are blowing out their arse, whilst he's presenting and looking fresh as a daisy.
Though that yellow mavic kit is horrific. Where's his Rapha gear?
yeah, I am going about 4 weeks before the TDF, would to have loved to do just before or after
Ridden (well grovelled) up the Alpe several times in the 90s & it's bloody tough but worth every metre.
Loved every ascent & this vid brought it all back in spades.
I would say the most evocative time to ride it is in the weeks following a TdF stage when all the paint is still fresh and you can hear the echoes of the crowd still bouncing off the mountains.
Mike has been great with me answering questions on FB and twitter. He is trying to help all cyclists not sure how anyone can speak against him
Would have to agree. Posted a question on the Col site, and got a great, considered and helpful response from Mike, he didn't have to spend time on me. Chapeau!
Anyone else bored by all this "Mike Cotty this, Mike Cotty that" / "look how many cols I've climbed"?
No.
He's a great rider, friendly, very approachable, generous with his knowledge and a good ambassador for cycling.
I've got a lot of time for what he does and says.
No.
Hi Chokofingrz,
Apologies for boring you. I owe a lot to the mountains and cycling overall. In fact I'd go as far as to say that both have helped me through some pretty dark places at various points in my life. One thing I realised early on was how free I felt as soon as I got on the bike, how inspiring the mountains are and best of all, no matter what else is going on in your world, when you combine the two they bring you right back into the present moment (something that's getting harder and harder with the seemingly relentless pace of life nowadays). For me that's powerful stuff. I've dedicated my life to trying to help and support others as best I can with the experience I have, unfortunately I'll never be able to satisfy everyone which is a shame but that's life.
Peace.
Mike Cotty
Love Huez. Prefer Croix de Fer.
Ridden the alpe a few times having done Marmotte twice. Missed gold by 2 minutes last year as got my timings wrong spending too much time at the bottom getting water and eating grrrr.
A Must do climb but not the prettiest as does get quite busy with traffic. Nice wide road though. Be careful going down. Very easy to blow your tyres as rims get so hot
Nice but i've done it more times
I guess you weren't around last time Mike Cotty responded to such a comment on here
ouch!
Nice Mavic advert, awful music.
We're super grateful to everyone (brands and media) that has supported The Col Collective and helped to give us the opportunity to create a free online resource that we hope will help many cyclists now and in seasons to come. Until our lottery numbers come up trumps we have to rely on that.
Ha! Music selection is one of the most stressful elements of each video. I've come to the conclusion whatever we do we are going to lose with someone along the line. I reckon YouTube should install a "music selector" function, then folk could just plug and play whatever tunes they want as they watch. Boy would that make our lives sooooo much easier! #dreaming
Ride safe.
Mike Cotty