{"id":2061377,"date":"2026-07-24T22:07:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T19:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2061377"},"modified":"2026-07-24T22:07:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T19:07:32","slug":"unpopular-opinion-alpe-dhuez-is-on-the-limit-and-it-wasnt-even-the-best-atmosphere-at-this-tour-de-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2061377","title":{"rendered":"Unpopular opinion: Alpe d&#8217;Huez is on the limit, and it wasn&#8217;t even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-2000-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    As it happened: Alpe d&#8217;Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cEsH4jw9ZzpHAkQsHoKMSi-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/cEsH4jw9ZzpHAkQsHoKMSi-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    As it happened: GC drama on the slopes of the Col du Haag during stage 14 of the Tour de France\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mDyXvuccsCvvuuSSuwXtne-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mDyXvuccsCvvuuSSuwXtne-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Tour de France: Tadej Poga\u010dar flies to victory atop l&#8217;Alpe d&#8217;Huez on stage 19\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Unpopular opinion: Alpe d&#8217;Huez is on the limit, and it wasn&#8217;t even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nPatrick Fletcher <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-24T22:07:32Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n24 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Stage 19 on Alpe d&#8217;Huez at the Tour de France<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">22<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-70254ee2-87a5-11f1-9c24-a7983ecb1ca2\">Einer Rubio hobbles down the metal stairs from the medical truck in Alpe d\u2019Huez and clambers into an ambulance that will take him to a helicopter that will take him to a hospital in Grenoble in the valley below. In between, he attempts to take a drink from a bottle of water. It\u2019s not easy. His face is covered in bandages, and where you can see bare skin, it\u2019s puffy and swollen. The water is tilted in the general direction of his numb lips and a little of it manages to pass down his throat, the rest spilling onto his t-shirt and onto the tarmac.<\/p>\n<p>A couple of hours previously, the Colombian had crashed into the back of a UAE Team Emirates-XRG car towards the top of professional cycling\u2019s most packed-out climb. A spectator had seemingly stumbled into the road, the UAE car slammed on the brakes, and Rubio slammed into the rear windscreen. His Tour de France is over; he\u2019ll need minor surgery, and it\u2019ll be a little while before he can eat solid food again.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-70254ee2-87a5-11f1-9c24-a7983ecb1ca2-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">These things can happen on any busy climb, but Alpe d\u2019Huez simply asks for trouble every time it\u2019s included in the Tour de France, and it\u2019s a minor miracle that incidents like this have not been more common in recent years.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It seems like with every new inclusion on the Tour de France route, Alpe d\u2019Huez becomes that touch more chaotic. It has been this way for decades, but Friday\u2019s visit certainly seemed like an escalation compared to previous editions.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The French police closed the road to traffic several days ago, they inserted barriers on Dutch corner, and they posted hundreds of police men and women to the mountainside. The preceding days were greeted with as much trepidation as excitement. \u201cI hope nothing goes wrong,\u201d was Tadej Poga\u010dar\u2019s input just a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Fears of chaos on L&#8217;Alpe d&#8217;Huez as crowds pack Alpine climb for Tour de France showdown<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I\u2019m glad Ur\u0161ka is not coming up with my car&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar braced for &#8216;insane&#8217; Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Uncharted terrain&#8217; builds on the legend of Alpe d&#8217;Huez at this year&#8217;s Tour de France &#8211; A retrospect of two sides to one mountain<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We drove up the climb a few hours ahead of the race, and what was striking was the quietness of the lower slopes compared to the overcrowding higher up. There was a great little party on Beefeater Bend, but otherwise the bottom portion of the climb was underwhelmingly quiet.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Until we reached Dutch corner, which was the cue for a middle-to-upper section of the climb that was complete bedlam. Music was blaring from all angles. Fans formed tunnels, pounding and shaking our car as we inched our way through. The car was draped with flags, slapped with stickers and splashed with drinks. Thankfully, it was an automatic, or else it&#8217;d be in need of a new clutch.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There was one section where the police were clearing the left-hand lane for traffic, with fans kettled in like sardines in the right-hand lane. No one could move.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">What it seemed to me was happening was that, even if crowds were similar in overall size compared to previous editions, they were spread out less evenly along the climb.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">My colleague in the passenger seat, a veteran journalist of 35 Tours, captured it neatly. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen Alpe d\u2019Huez so quiet,\u201d he said after the first few hairpins. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen Alpe d\u2019Huez as mad as this,\u201d he said 5km from the top. Others with even more Tour experience noted how much more frenzied, and even unfriendly, it seemed compared to years gone by.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">I rode the Col de Sarenne to see what the newest Tour de France climb is really like \u2013 Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s in store for the Queen stage<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;All the roads will be saturated&#8217; \u2013 Our tips for negotiating Alpe d&#8217;Huez travel chaos to watch double Tour de France stage finishes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">As it happened: Alpe d&#8217;Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This creates bottlenecks where there are simply too many fans for the available space. And the amount of alcohol consumed on the mountain \u2013 days before the Tour even arrives \u2013 is a very real problem. The majority of spectators are true fans of the sport and respectful in their support, but this whole situation creates a tightrope that demands a holding of breath from the race organisers and the local authorities.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-11e2b920-87a8-11f1-84d3-6f7b5735d470\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Tadej Pogacar climbing Alpe d&#8217;Huez on stage 19 at the Tour de France <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-531e18ee-87a8-11f1-aa56-99d4724db677\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the stage, there were plenty more reactions that suggest we may be reaching a tipping point.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt was ugly out there,\u201d said Decathlon CMA CGM director Luke Rowe. \u201cRemco [Evenepoel] got blocked and struggled to move at one point, and I saw a Movistar rider at the side of the road covered in blood. So it was really on the limit.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to speak to the lads and see what they thought because from my side, I mean, the amount of people hitting your wing mirrors and like, you\u2019re millimetres away from running people&#8217;s feet over and stuff. So it was pretty scary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Likewise, for many watching on TV, there will have been a fine line between all this being exhilarating to watch and being slightly uncomfortable to watch.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I realise that the entire article so far opens me up to the criticism of being a killjoy \u2013 and I\u2019m waiting for all the \u2018I bet he\u2019s fun at parties\u2019 wisecracks in the comments below. In my defense, I can only say that I have been to the darts multiple times.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I am all for party atmospheres in sports, and I wouldn\u2019t wish to punch down on any fans. There is a very fine line between an amazing atmosphere and a slightly unsafe one, and if anything I think the responsibility falls on the race organisers and the authorities to ensure adequate conditions for all involved.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We mustn\u2019t forget that sport is nothing without fans and in no sport is that more true than cycling, which weaves its way through the real world and remains, mercifully, free to access. It would be a great shame to start overly-sanitising that and removing that close connection between fans and riders, which is what makes this sport so special. But with safety so far up the pro cycling agenda this year, and some possible fallout coming from this Alpe d\u2019Huez stage, it will be fascinating to see how the powers-that-be handle this in the future.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"le-markstein-a-panoramic-cycling-stadium-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Le Markstein: a panoramic cycling stadium<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-70255072-87a5-11f1-b46f-cf24f54bd933\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For now, I would argue that Alpe d\u2019Huez wasn\u2019t even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France. Let me take you back to the Markstein on stage 14.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I\u2019d never been to the Vosges mountains, but I\u2019d heard they support the Tour pretty well round those parts, and boy did they not disappoint. We drove up the back side of the final climb, the Col du Haag, but we passed hundreds of cyclists as we did so. There must have been thousands more on the race route itself. After half an hour or so in the press room, I wandered out but was hemmed in by what can only be described as a rolling maul of people walking past, pushing their bikes up the final stretch of gravel onto the grassy hilltop expanses that would give them a panorama of the mountain range and a vantage point of the race below.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Barbecue smoke filled the air, Eurotrash blasted from the hilltop cafe, and picnics were hastily scrambled up with every blast of sudden, torrential rain. But the rain would not spoil this party. The crowds were as thick as I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The positioning of the finish line several kilometres beyond the crest of the final climb was actually perfect for this, creating this amphitheatre where the fans flooded every inch of grass on the surrounding hillsides. Whereas the hairpins of Alpe d\u2019Huez squeeze people along the twisting tarmac, the Markstein was a panoramic verdant stadium.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-625fe62c-87ab-11f1-8f38-557d4c8e387f\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The peloton on the Col du Haag on the approach into the finish at Le Markstein on stage 14 at the Tour de France <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-625fe6a4-87ab-11f1-8dc6-13fc10711037\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cI\u2019ve never seen anything like it,\u201d wrote the typically poetic cycling photographer Jered Gruber alongside a collection of shots from the stage uploaded to his Instagram. \u201cThe crowd atop the Col du Haag was a rolling, beautiful, multi-coloured sea rippling across, up, down, and over the mountainside spread about the better half of 360 degrees. It was full. Overflowing.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt was without question the biggest collection of humans I\u2019ve seen at a bike race. It was stunning. When we rounded the corner out of the trees and into the grassy stadium itself, it made everything fall away. It was just awe. Wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">First of all, thank you, Jered, for expressing what I am finding so difficult after over an hour spent not only driving up Alpe d\u2019Huez on race day, but down it too. Secondly, it was not just us in the media, but the riders themselves. \u201cI have never seen crowds like this,\u201d said Tadej Poga\u010dar, who had ridden Alpe d\u2019Huez before, on the 2022 Tour.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Alpe d\u2019Huez is a carnival, or as one colleague put it, \u201cpure debauchery\u201d. The Markstein was still feverish, but less of a stag do. It felt more bucolic &#8211; bags were full of picnics, and for most this was the culmination of a ride or a hike in the countryside. It felt like there were many more bikes. And it certainly felt more family-friendly.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">And I\u2019d say that the atmosphere was a more natural, organic one, too. Poga\u010dar skipped away yet again, but Paul Seixas, the great French hope, set about chasing down and then dropping Jonas Vingegaard. It was an electric moment, one of those where the Tour simply comes alive and throbs with meaning and possibility.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">What I\u2019m trying to say is that the atmosphere was beating more in tune and in time with the race. On Alpe d\u2019Huez, the race itself feels more incidental to the party.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But maybe I\u2019m just getting old, and maybe there\u2019s a place for both tastes. I\u2019m going on a stag-do in September, and I\u2019m going to the darts in December. But if you ask me if I want to spend a summer\u2019s day watching the Tour de France, I\u2019ll be heading to the Markstein every time.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-625fe71c-87ab-11f1-a9e0-b3976eea22eb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><u><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Patrick Fletcher<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Deputy Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Patrick is an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor\u2019s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish) and a decade\u2019s experience in digital sports media, largely within the world of cycling. He re-joined Cyclingnews as Deputy Editor in February 2026, having previously spent eight years on staff between 2015 and 2023. In between, he was Deputy Editor at GCN and spent 18 months working across the sports portfolio at Future before returning to the cycling press pack. Patrick works across Cyclingnews\u2019 wide-ranging output, assisting the Editor in global content strategy, with a particular focus on shaping CN&#8217;s news operation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Fears of chaos on L&#8217;Alpe d&#8217;Huez as crowds pack Alpine climb for Tour de France showdown<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I\u2019m glad Ur\u0161ka is not coming up with my car&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar braced for &#8216;insane&#8217; Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Uncharted terrain&#8217; builds on the legend of Alpe d&#8217;Huez at this year&#8217;s Tour de France &#8211; A retrospect of two sides to one mountain<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Culture<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">I rode the Col de Sarenne to see what the newest Tour de France climb is really like \u2013 Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s in store for the Queen stage<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;All the roads will be saturated&#8217; \u2013 Our tips for negotiating Alpe d&#8217;Huez travel chaos to watch double Tour de France stage finishes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">As it happened: Alpe d&#8217;Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sepp Kuss misses out on stage victory after crashing twice on descent while leading into stage 20 finale at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I should have reacted differently&#8217; \u2013 UAE Team Emirates-XRG general manager Mauro Gianetti denies any responsibility for doping affairs in former team<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Ilan Van Wilder crashes out of Tour de France on mountain descent one day from Paris<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Wout van Aert expected to race for the first time since missing out on Tour de France due to elbow injury next Wednesday<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;There was no discussion, I just went&#8217; \u2013 Pete Kennaugh, the last winner on Alpe d&#8217;Huez via Col de Sarenne, reflects on memorable day from the Team Sky era<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We&#8217;ve kept motivating each other&#8217; &#8211; Isaac del Toro tightens grip on Tour de France podium as UAE Team Emirates bounce back from illness<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;There was no discussion, I just went&#8217; \u2013 Pete Kennaugh, the last winner on Alpe d&#8217;Huez via Col de Sarenne, reflects on memorable day from the Team Sky era<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sick soldiers and mixed messages \u2013 What&#8217;s really going on at UAE Team Emirates-XRG and how will it change the last days of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B7HK4DTdVRMFDBew4JGErB-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B7HK4DTdVRMFDBew4JGErB-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B7HK4DTdVRMFDBew4JGErB-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B7HK4DTdVRMFDBew4JGErB-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B7HK4DTdVRMFDBew4JGErB-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Fight like a lion and fly like an eagle&#8217; &#8211; How Carlos Sastre&#8217;s life changed when he won the Tour de France on L&#8217;Alpe d&#8217;Huez<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Doping<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">An altitude alibi: Does cycling&#8217;s anti-doping system have a major loophole?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Doping<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What to know about Tour de France nighttime testing \u2013 The rules, the results timeline, the ITA, reactions and more explained<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bpkzGDuSa89n2ZwaqCKgiP-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bpkzGDuSa89n2ZwaqCKgiP-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bpkzGDuSa89n2ZwaqCKgiP-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bpkzGDuSa89n2ZwaqCKgiP-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bpkzGDuSa89n2ZwaqCKgiP-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Road Bikes<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Early Access: Watch our Van Rysel RCR-F review before it goes live on YouTube<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour de France: Richard Carapaz dominates Alpe d&#8217;Huez after late disaster by Sepp Kuss<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Sepp Kuss misses out on stage victory after crashing twice on descent while leading into stage 20 finale at Tour de France<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Final stage of 2026 Tour de France shortened due to exceptional circumstances caused by wildfires<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour de Pologne Women: Lorena Wiebes storms to back-to-back victories on stage 2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;I should have reacted differently&#8217; \u2013 UAE Team Emirates-XRG general manager Mauro Gianetti denies any responsibility for doping affairs in former team<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Unpopular opinion: Alpe d&#8217;Huez is on the limit, and it wasn&#8217;t even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nPatrick Fletcher <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-24T22:07:32Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n24 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Stage 19 on Alpe d&#8217;Huez at the Tour de France<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">22<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-70254ee2-87a5-11f1-9c24-a7983ecb1ca2\">Einer Rubio hobbles down the metal stairs from the medical truck in Alpe d\u2019Huez and clambers into an ambulance that will take him to a helicopter that will take him to a hospital in Grenoble in the valley below. In between, he attempts to take a drink from a bottle of water. It\u2019s not easy. His face is covered in bandages, and where you can see bare skin, it\u2019s puffy and swollen. The water is tilted in the general direction of his numb lips and a little of it manages to pass down his throat, the rest spilling onto his t-shirt and onto the tarmac.<\/p>\n<p>A couple of hours previously, the Colombian had crashed into the back of a UAE Team Emirates-XRG car towards the top of professional cycling\u2019s most packed-out climb. A spectator had seemingly stumbled into the road, the UAE car slammed on the brakes, and Rubio slammed into the rear windscreen. His Tour de France is over; he\u2019ll need minor surgery, and it\u2019ll be a little while before he can eat solid food again.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-70254ee2-87a5-11f1-9c24-a7983ecb1ca2-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">These things can happen on any busy climb, but Alpe d\u2019Huez simply asks for trouble every time it\u2019s included in the Tour de France, and it\u2019s a minor miracle that incidents like this have not been more common in recent years.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It seems like with every new inclusion on the Tour de France route, Alpe d\u2019Huez becomes that touch more chaotic. It has been this way for decades, but Friday\u2019s visit certainly seemed like an escalation compared to previous editions.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The French police closed the road to traffic several days ago, they inserted barriers on Dutch corner, and they posted hundreds of police men and women to the mountainside. The preceding days were greeted with as much trepidation as excitement. \u201cI hope nothing goes wrong,\u201d was Tadej Poga\u010dar\u2019s input just a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Fears of chaos on L&#8217;Alpe d&#8217;Huez as crowds pack Alpine climb for Tour de France showdown<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I\u2019m glad Ur\u0161ka is not coming up with my car&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar braced for &#8216;insane&#8217; Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Uncharted terrain&#8217; builds on the legend of Alpe d&#8217;Huez at this year&#8217;s Tour de France &#8211; A retrospect of two sides to one mountain<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We drove up the climb a few hours ahead of the race, and what was striking was the quietness of the lower slopes compared to the overcrowding higher up. There was a great little party on Beefeater Bend, but otherwise the bottom portion of the climb was underwhelmingly quiet.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Until we reached Dutch corner, which was the cue for a middle-to-upper section of the climb that was complete bedlam. Music was blaring from all angles. Fans formed tunnels, pounding and shaking our car as we inched our way through. The car was draped with flags, slapped with stickers and splashed with drinks. Thankfully, it was an automatic, or else it&#8217;d be in need of a new clutch.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There was one section where the police were clearing the left-hand lane for traffic, with fans kettled in like sardines in the right-hand lane. No one could move.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">What it seemed to me was happening was that, even if crowds were similar in overall size compared to previous editions, they were spread out less evenly along the climb.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">My colleague in the passenger seat, a veteran journalist of 35 Tours, captured it neatly. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen Alpe d\u2019Huez so quiet,\u201d he said after the first few hairpins. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen Alpe d\u2019Huez as mad as this,\u201d he said 5km from the top. Others with even more Tour experience noted how much more frenzied, and even unfriendly, it seemed compared to years gone by.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">I rode the Col de Sarenne to see what the newest Tour de France climb is really like \u2013 Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s in store for the Queen stage<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;All the roads will be saturated&#8217; \u2013 Our tips for negotiating Alpe d&#8217;Huez travel chaos to watch double Tour de France stage finishes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">As it happened: Alpe d&#8217;Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This creates bottlenecks where there are simply too many fans for the available space. And the amount of alcohol consumed on the mountain \u2013 days before the Tour even arrives \u2013 is a very real problem. The majority of spectators are true fans of the sport and respectful in their support, but this whole situation creates a tightrope that demands a holding of breath from the race organisers and the local authorities.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-11e2b920-87a8-11f1-84d3-6f7b5735d470\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Tadej Pogacar climbing Alpe d&#8217;Huez on stage 19 at the Tour de France <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-531e18ee-87a8-11f1-aa56-99d4724db677\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the stage, there were plenty more reactions that suggest we may be reaching a tipping point.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt was ugly out there,\u201d said Decathlon CMA CGM director Luke Rowe. \u201cRemco [Evenepoel] got blocked and struggled to move at one point, and I saw a Movistar rider at the side of the road covered in blood. So it was really on the limit.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to speak to the lads and see what they thought because from my side, I mean, the amount of people hitting your wing mirrors and like, you\u2019re millimetres away from running people&#8217;s feet over and stuff. So it was pretty scary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Likewise, for many watching on TV, there will have been a fine line between all this being exhilarating to watch and being slightly uncomfortable to watch.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I realise that the entire article so far opens me up to the criticism of being a killjoy \u2013 and I\u2019m waiting for all the \u2018I bet he\u2019s fun at parties\u2019 wisecracks in the comments below. In my defense, I can only say that I have been to the darts multiple times.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I am all for party atmospheres in sports, and I wouldn\u2019t wish to punch down on any fans. There is a very fine line between an amazing atmosphere and a slightly unsafe one, and if anything I think the responsibility falls on the race organisers and the authorities to ensure adequate conditions for all involved.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We mustn\u2019t forget that sport is nothing without fans and in no sport is that more true than cycling, which weaves its way through the real world and remains, mercifully, free to access. It would be a great shame to start overly-sanitising that and removing that close connection between fans and riders, which is what makes this sport so special. But with safety so far up the pro cycling agenda this year, and some possible fallout coming from this Alpe d\u2019Huez stage, it will be fascinating to see how the powers-that-be handle this in the future.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"le-markstein-a-panoramic-cycling-stadium-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Le Markstein: a panoramic cycling stadium<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-70255072-87a5-11f1-b46f-cf24f54bd933\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For now, I would argue that Alpe d\u2019Huez wasn\u2019t even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France. Let me take you back to the Markstein on stage 14.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I\u2019d never been to the Vosges mountains, but I\u2019d heard they support the Tour pretty well round those parts, and boy did they not disappoint. We drove up the back side of the final climb, the Col du Haag, but we passed hundreds of cyclists as we did so. There must have been thousands more on the race route itself. After half an hour or so in the press room, I wandered out but was hemmed in by what can only be described as a rolling maul of people walking past, pushing their bikes up the final stretch of gravel onto the grassy hilltop expanses that would give them a panorama of the mountain range and a vantage point of the race below.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Barbecue smoke filled the air, Eurotrash blasted from the hilltop cafe, and picnics were hastily scrambled up with every blast of sudden, torrential rain. But the rain would not spoil this party. The crowds were as thick as I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The positioning of the finish line several kilometres beyond the crest of the final climb was actually perfect for this, creating this amphitheatre where the fans flooded every inch of grass on the surrounding hillsides. Whereas the hairpins of Alpe d\u2019Huez squeeze people along the twisting tarmac, the Markstein was a panoramic verdant stadium.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-625fe62c-87ab-11f1-8f38-557d4c8e387f\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The peloton on the Col du Haag on the approach into the finish at Le Markstein on stage 14 at the Tour de France <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-625fe6a4-87ab-11f1-8dc6-13fc10711037\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cI\u2019ve never seen anything like it,\u201d wrote the typically poetic cycling photographer Jered Gruber alongside a collection of shots from the stage uploaded to his Instagram. \u201cThe crowd atop the Col du Haag was a rolling, beautiful, multi-coloured sea rippling across, up, down, and over the mountainside spread about the better half of 360 degrees. It was full. Overflowing.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt was without question the biggest collection of humans I\u2019ve seen at a bike race. It was stunning. When we rounded the corner out of the trees and into the grassy stadium itself, it made everything fall away. It was just awe. Wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">First of all, thank you, Jered, for expressing what I am finding so difficult after over an hour spent not only driving up Alpe d\u2019Huez on race day, but down it too. Secondly, it was not just us in the media, but the riders themselves. \u201cI have never seen crowds like this,\u201d said Tadej Poga\u010dar, who had ridden Alpe d\u2019Huez before, on the 2022 Tour.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Alpe d\u2019Huez is a carnival, or as one colleague put it, \u201cpure debauchery\u201d. The Markstein was still feverish, but less of a stag do. It felt more bucolic &#8211; bags were full of picnics, and for most this was the culmination of a ride or a hike in the countryside. It felt like there were many more bikes. And it certainly felt more family-friendly.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">And I\u2019d say that the atmosphere was a more natural, organic one, too. Poga\u010dar skipped away yet again, but Paul Seixas, the great French hope, set about chasing down and then dropping Jonas Vingegaard. It was an electric moment, one of those where the Tour simply comes alive and throbs with meaning and possibility.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">What I\u2019m trying to say is that the atmosphere was beating more in tune and in time with the race. On Alpe d\u2019Huez, the race itself feels more incidental to the party.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But maybe I\u2019m just getting old, and maybe there\u2019s a place for both tastes. I\u2019m going on a stag-do in September, and I\u2019m going to the darts in December. But if you ask me if I want to spend a summer\u2019s day watching the Tour de France, I\u2019ll be heading to the Markstein every time.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-625fe71c-87ab-11f1-a9e0-b3976eea22eb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><u><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2QoJgeVtEMbCKNujw2pLoH.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Patrick Fletcher<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Deputy Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Patrick is an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor\u2019s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish) and a decade\u2019s experience in digital sports media, largely within the world of cycling. He re-joined Cyclingnews as Deputy Editor in February 2026, having previously spent eight years on staff between 2015 and 2023. In between, he was Deputy Editor at GCN and spent 18 months working across the sports portfolio at Future before returning to the cycling press pack. Patrick works across Cyclingnews\u2019 wide-ranging output, assisting the Editor in global content strategy, with a particular focus on shaping CN&#8217;s news operation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Fears of chaos on L&#8217;Alpe d&#8217;Huez as crowds pack Alpine climb for Tour de France showdown<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I\u2019m glad Ur\u0161ka is not coming up with my car&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar braced for &#8216;insane&#8217; Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Uncharted terrain&#8217; builds on the legend of Alpe d&#8217;Huez at this year&#8217;s Tour de France &#8211; A retrospect of two sides to one mountain<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Culture<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">I rode the Col de Sarenne to see what the newest Tour de France climb is really like \u2013 Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s in store for the Queen stage<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;All the roads will be saturated&#8217; \u2013 Our tips for negotiating Alpe d&#8217;Huez travel chaos to watch double Tour de France stage finishes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">As it happened: Alpe d&#8217;Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fJyMctJ4dRupPcTaLbrUMn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sepp Kuss misses out on stage victory after crashing twice on descent while leading into stage 20 finale at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/toHyVx44vcpC9Qj6KR8neH-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I should have reacted differently&#8217; \u2013 UAE Team Emirates-XRG general manager Mauro Gianetti denies any responsibility for doping affairs in former team<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Hk6cjqSJPJKRsbYfgkEDzA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Ilan Van Wilder crashes out of Tour de France on mountain descent one day from Paris<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TxNKBKUeydYK6G89H5ZLWL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Wout van Aert expected to race for the first time since missing out on Tour de France due to elbow injury next Wednesday<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;There was no discussion, I just went&#8217; \u2013 Pete Kennaugh, the last winner on Alpe d&#8217;Huez via Col de Sarenne, reflects on memorable day from the Team Sky era<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/S2mGx58FnQsZuip3eugE3Q-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We&#8217;ve kept motivating each other&#8217; &#8211; Isaac del Toro tightens grip on Tour de France podium as UAE Team Emirates bounce back from illness<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" 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https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UgEGjVMopXw527Qc4VQX76-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;There was no discussion, I just went&#8217; \u2013 Pete Kennaugh, the last winner on Alpe d&#8217;Huez via Col de Sarenne, reflects on memorable day from the Team Sky era<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FTnW7kSsyHmXZYK5VY2goi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sick soldiers and mixed messages \u2013 What&#8217;s really going on at UAE Team Emirates-XRG and how will it change the last days of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B7HK4DTdVRMFDBew4JGErB-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B7HK4DTdVRMFDBew4JGErB-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, 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class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6YKztgCxUP3MKzPH5tU736-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Doping<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">An altitude alibi: Does cycling&#8217;s anti-doping system have a major loophole?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MVMyQy4j8kc4GNYaZbNDvN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Doping<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What to know about Tour de France nighttime testing \u2013 The rules, the results timeline, the ITA, reactions and more explained<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div 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class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qocAmsgccJyuTn9aBziFfV-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour de France: Richard Carapaz dominates Alpe d&#8217;Huez after 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class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour de Pologne Women: Lorena Wiebes storms to back-to-back victories on stage 2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;I should have reacted differently&#8217; \u2013 UAE Team Emirates-XRG general manager Mauro Gianetti denies any responsibility for doping affairs in former team<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Unpopular opinion: Alpe d&#8217;Huez is on the limit, and it wasn&#8217;t even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nPatrick Fletcher <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-24T22:07:32Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n24 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">22<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-70254ee2-87a5-11f1-9c24-a7983ecb1ca2\">Einer Rubio hobbles down the metal stairs from the medical truck in Alpe d\u2019Huez and clambers into an ambulance that will take him to a helicopter that will take him to a hospital in Grenoble in the valley below. In between, he attempts to take a drink from a bottle of water. It\u2019s not easy. His face is covered in bandages, and where you can see bare skin, it\u2019s puffy and swollen. The water is tilted in the general direction of his numb lips and a little of it manages to pass down his throat, the rest spilling onto his t-shirt and onto the tarmac.<\/p>\n<p>A couple of hours previously, the Colombian had crashed into the back of a UAE Team Emirates-XRG car towards the top of professional cycling\u2019s most packed-out climb. A spectator had seemingly stumbled into the road, the UAE car slammed on the brakes, and Rubio slammed into the rear windscreen. His Tour de France is over; he\u2019ll need minor surgery, and it\u2019ll be a little while before he can eat solid food again.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-70254ee2-87a5-11f1-9c24-a7983ecb1ca2-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">These things can happen on any busy climb, but Alpe d\u2019Huez simply asks for trouble every time it\u2019s included in the Tour de France, and it\u2019s a minor miracle that incidents like this have not been more common in recent years.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It seems like with every new inclusion on the Tour de France route, Alpe d\u2019Huez becomes that touch more chaotic. It has been this way for decades, but Friday\u2019s visit certainly seemed like an escalation compared to previous editions.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The French police closed the road to traffic several days ago, they inserted barriers on Dutch corner, and they posted hundreds of police men and women to the mountainside. The preceding days were greeted with as much trepidation as excitement. \u201cI hope nothing goes wrong,\u201d was Tadej Poga\u010dar\u2019s input just a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/qSYM4B3jg2EtLdzKunu6a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Fears of chaos on L&#8217;Alpe d&#8217;Huez as crowds pack Alpine climb for Tour de France showdown<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3mpRt3Q8fm7Lk6c948tZKg-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I\u2019m glad Ur\u0161ka is not coming up with my car&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar braced for &#8216;insane&#8217; Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kogAv54QjVoZVzHbqYaWoQ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Uncharted terrain&#8217; builds on the legend of Alpe d&#8217;Huez at this year&#8217;s Tour de France &#8211; A retrospect of two sides to one mountain<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We drove up the climb a few hours ahead of the race, and what was striking was the quietness of the lower slopes compared to the overcrowding higher up. There was a great little party on Beefeater Bend, but otherwise the bottom portion of the climb was underwhelmingly quiet.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Until we reached Dutch corner, which was the cue for a middle-to-upper section of the climb that was complete bedlam. Music was blaring from all angles. Fans formed tunnels, pounding and shaking our car as we inched our way through. The car was draped with flags, slapped with stickers and splashed with drinks. Thankfully, it was an automatic, or else it&#8217;d be in need of a new clutch.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-RQj2oYpzCvYmDoaUrFjRxM slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There was one section where the police were clearing the left-hand lane for traffic, with fans kettled in like sardines in the right-hand lane. No one could move.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">What it seemed to me was happening was that, even if crowds were similar in overall size compared to previous editions, they were spread out less evenly along the climb.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">My colleague in the passenger seat, a veteran journalist of 35 Tours, captured it neatly. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen Alpe d\u2019Huez so quiet,\u201d he said after the first few hairpins. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen Alpe d\u2019Huez as mad as this,\u201d he said 5km from the top. Others with even more Tour experience noted how much more frenzied, and even unfriendly, it seemed compared to years gone by.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ctTKHjxm7C68EgHCvdifue-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">I rode the Col de Sarenne to see what the newest Tour de France climb is really like \u2013 Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s in store for the Queen stage<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/p8W36EWeWhZ69qiJ5GhPMo-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;All the roads will be saturated&#8217; \u2013 Our tips for negotiating Alpe d&#8217;Huez travel chaos to watch double Tour de France stage finishes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F8c8QLuRFWe6XdA8aSzhHJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">As it happened: Alpe d&#8217;Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d\u2019Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This creates bottlenecks where there are simply too many fans for the available space. And the amount of alcohol consumed on the mountain \u2013 days before the Tour even arrives \u2013 is a very real problem. The majority of spectators are true fans of the sport and respectful in their support, but this whole situation creates a tightrope that demands a holding of breath from the race organisers and the local authorities.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-11e2b920-87a8-11f1-84d3-6f7b5735d470\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/wVVqMc2kYnCsZ9YMAyt54H-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Tadej Pogacar climbing Alpe d&#8217;Huez on stage 19 at the Tour de France <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-531e18ee-87a8-11f1-aa56-99d4724db677\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the stage, there were plenty more reactions that suggest we may be reaching a tipping point.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt was ugly out there,\u201d said Decathlon CMA CGM director Luke Rowe. \u201cRemco [Evenepoel] got blocked and struggled to move at one point, and I saw a Movistar rider at the side of the road covered in blood. So it was really on the limit.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to speak to the lads and see what they thought because from my side, I mean, the amount of people hitting your wing mirrors and like, you\u2019re millimetres away from running people&#8217;s feet over and stuff. So it was pretty scary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Likewise, for many watching on TV, there will have been a fine line between all this being exhilarating to watch and being slightly uncomfortable to watch.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I realise that the entire article so far opens me up to the criticism of being a killjoy \u2013 and I\u2019m waiting for all the \u2018I bet he\u2019s fun at parties\u2019 wisecracks in the comments below. In my defense, I can only say that I have been to the darts multiple times.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I am all for party atmospheres in sports, and I wouldn\u2019t wish to punch down on any fans. There is a very fine line between an amazing atmosphere and a slightly unsafe one, and if anything I think the responsibility falls on the race organisers and the authorities to ensure adequate conditions for all involved.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We mustn\u2019t forget that sport is nothing without fans and in no sport is that more true than cycling, which weaves its way through the real world and remains, mercifully, free to access. It would be a great shame to start overly-sanitising that and removing that close connection between fans and riders, which is what makes this sport so special. But with safety so far up the pro cycling agenda this year, and some possible fallout coming from this Alpe d\u2019Huez stage, it will be fascinating to see how the powers-that-be handle this in the future.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"le-markstein-a-panoramic-cycling-stadium-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Le Markstein: a panoramic cycling stadium<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-70255072-87a5-11f1-b46f-cf24f54bd933\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For now, I would argue that Alpe d\u2019Huez wasn\u2019t even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France. Let me take you back to the Markstein on stage 14.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I\u2019d never been to the Vosges mountains, but I\u2019d heard they support the Tour pretty well round those parts, and boy did they not disappoint. We drove up the back side of the final climb, the Col du Haag, but we passed hundreds of cyclists as we did so. There must have been thousands more on the race route itself. After half an hour or so in the press room, I wandered out but was hemmed in by what can only be described as a rolling maul of people walking past, pushing their bikes up the final stretch of gravel onto the grassy hilltop expanses that would give them a panorama of the mountain range and a vantage point of the race below.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Barbecue smoke filled the air, Eurotrash blasted from the hilltop cafe, and picnics were hastily scrambled up with every blast of sudden, torrential rain. But the rain would not spoil this party. The crowds were as thick as I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The positioning of the finish line several kilometres beyond the crest of the final climb was actually perfect for this, creating this amphitheatre where the fans flooded every inch of grass on the surrounding hillsides. Whereas the hairpins of Alpe d\u2019Huez squeeze people along the twisting tarmac, the Markstein was a panoramic verdant stadium.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-625fe62c-87ab-11f1-8f38-557d4c8e387f\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kzr6h5piKzj5fvqZ6oRwoc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">The peloton on the Col du Haag on the approach into the finish at Le Markstein on stage 14 at the Tour de France <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-625fe6a4-87ab-11f1-8dc6-13fc10711037\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cI\u2019ve never seen anything like it,\u201d wrote the typically poetic cycling photographer Jered Gruber alongside a collection of shots from the stage uploaded to his Instagram. \u201cThe crowd atop the Col du Haag was a rolling, beautiful, multi-coloured sea rippling across, up, down, and over the mountainside spread about the better half of 360 degrees. It was full. Overflowing.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt was without question the biggest collection of humans I\u2019ve seen at a bike race. It was stunning. When we rounded the corner out of the trees and into the grassy stadium itself, it made everything fall away. It was just awe. Wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">First of all, thank you, Jered, for expressing what I am finding so difficult after over an hour spent not only driving up Alpe d\u2019Huez on race day, but down it too. Secondly, it was not just us in the media, but the riders themselves. \u201cI have never seen crowds like this,\u201d said Tadej Poga\u010dar, who had ridden Alpe d\u2019Huez before, on the 2022 Tour.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Alpe d\u2019Huez is a carnival, or as one colleague put it, \u201cpure debauchery\u201d. The Markstein was still feverish, but less of a stag do. It felt more bucolic &#8211; bags were full of picnics, and for most this was the culmination of a ride or a hike in the countryside. It felt like there were many more bikes. And it certainly felt more family-friendly.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">And I\u2019d say that the atmosphere was a more natural, organic one, too. Poga\u010dar skipped away yet again, but Paul Seixas, the great French hope, set about chasing down and then dropping Jonas Vingegaard. It was an electric moment, one of those where the Tour simply comes alive and throbs with meaning and possibility.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">What I\u2019m trying to say is that the atmosphere was beating more in tune and in time with the race. On Alpe d\u2019Huez, the race itself feels more incidental to the party.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But maybe I\u2019m just getting old, and maybe there\u2019s a place for both tastes. I\u2019m going on a stag-do in September, and I\u2019m going to the darts in December. But if you ask me if I want to spend a summer\u2019s day watching the Tour de France, I\u2019ll be heading to the Markstein every time.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-625fe71c-87ab-11f1-a9e0-b3976eea22eb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><u><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/unpopular-opinion-alpe-dhuez-is-on-the-limit-and-it-wasnt-even-the-best-atmosphere-at-this-tour-de-france\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QUgdZpo4pzsaGTtCwve5ye-2000-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 As it happened: Alpe d&#8217;Huez the setting for epic battle between the breakaway and the yellow jersey on stage 19 of the Tour de France 2 As it happened: GC drama on the slopes of the Col du Haag during stage 14 of the Tour de France 3 Tour de France: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2061377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2061377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2061377\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2061377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2061377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2061377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}