Sixteen of the hardest climbs in professional cycling

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Sixteen of the toughest climbs in professional cycling

Ascents which strike fear into the even most seasoned pros

Mur de Huy (La Fleche Wallonne)

  • Angliru, Vuelta a Espana, 2013, climb, pic: Sirotti

    The Angliru is widely touted as the toughest climb in pro cycling - but what else made our list? (pic: Sirotti)

  • The peloton tackles the Wall of Sormano (pic: Sirotti)

  • Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran, Giro d'Italia 2014, stage 20, Zoncolan, pic: ©Sirotti

    Colombians, Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran do battle on the Zoncolan pic: ©Sirotti

  • Christopher Horner, Radioshack Leopard, red jersey, Algiru, Vuelta a Espana, 2013, pic: Sirotti

    Christopher Horner rides alone after dropping Vuelta a Espana GC rival Vincenzo Nibali on the Angliru (pic: Sirotti)

  • Alpe d'Huez sign, pic: ©Media-24, submitted by Mike Cotty, used with permission

    Peter Cossins' looks at 'cycling's greatest climb' in Alpe d'Huez (pic: Media-24)

  • Tour de France 2013, stage 15, Mont Ventoux, Chris Froome

    Froome rounds the final corner of the Mont Ventoux on his way to his 2013 stage win (pic: Sirotti)

  • climbs in Italy

    The iconic Passo dello Stelvio is likely to feature on the 'must ride' list of any cyclist. pic: ©Media24

  • The Koppenberg is known to have forced many a cyclist to get off and push (pic: Sirotti)

  • Alejandro Valverde, 2015, Movistar, salute, Mur de Huy., La Fleche Wallonne, pic: Sirotti

    Alejandro Valverde celebrates his La Fleche Wallonne triumph atop the Mur de Huy in 2015 (pic: Sirotti)

  • Snow, Gavia, Giro d'Italia, 2014, pic: Sirotti

    The snow-laden slopes of the Gavia featured at the Giro last year (pic: Sirotti)

  • Passo Giau, Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 17, pic: ©Sirotti

    The Passo Giau is set in a landscape that can accurately be described as stunning. pic: ©Sirotti

  • 2012, Giro d'Italia, tappa 20 Caldes - Passo dello Stelvio, Katusha 2012, Rodriguez Oliver Joaquin, Mortirolo

    Joaquim Rodriguez resplendent in the maglia rosa at the 2012 Giro d'Italia, tackles the Mortirolo

  • Col du Tourmalet, Pyrenees, climb, mountain (Pic: muneaki / Creative Commons)

    The Col du Tourmalet was part of the 2014 Etape du Tour (pic: muneaki / Creative Commons)

  • Joaquim Rodriguez, Katusha, Vuelta a Espana, 2012, Ancares, salute, pic: Sirotti

    Joaquim Rodriguez celebrates his win on the Ancares in 2012 (pic: Sirotti)

  • Nairo Quintana, Giro d'Italia, 2014, Movistar, pic: Sirotti

    Nairo Quintana and Pierre Rolland tackle the Montecampione at last year's Giro d'Italia (pic: Sirotti)

  • The stunning backdrop masks the fierceness of the climb to the Lakes of Covadonga (pic: Sirotti)

  • The Hautacam has become a popular modern addition to the Tour de France pic: ©Media24

Mur de Huy (La Fleche Wallonne)

Another short, steep favourite of the spring Classics, the Mur de Huy is arguably the most iconic finish of the three Ardennes races – even more so than the Cauberg, which features in the Amstel Gold Race.

The 1,300m ascent is tackled three times in all, with the addition of the Cote de Cherave just before the final climb this year meaning not only were its brutal pitches as punishing as ever, but they had to be tackled with very tired, lactate-filled legs.

An average gradient of 9.3 per cent on the 1.3km La Fleche Wallonne climb is thigh-burning enough but when you consider one of its bends touches 26 per cent – more than one-in-four – it brings home just how tough a finish it can be after 206km.

Alejandro Valverde has been king of the hill for the last two years, and the peloton got another chance to tackle it in 2015 thanks to its conclusion as a stage finish at the Tour de France – won by Joaquim Rodriguez.

Key facts

Length: 1.3km
Average gradient: 9.3%
Maximum gradient: 26%

Topics:

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