L’Alpe d’Huez, Tour de France, stage 18

A double ascent of l’Alpe d’Huez was never going to offer an easy day in the saddle, and any rider who believed the additional climb would ‘only’ double the challenge, would find themselves sadly mistaken. Approaching the second ascent from the Col de Sarenne meant that the 13.8km slog, one conducted at an average gradient of 8.1 per cent, was some 1.5km longer than the initial 12.3km ascent. Organisers of the 100th edition of the Tour de France had sought to celebrate the iconic climb’s 21 hairpins with a stage to remember and for French fans it proved to be exactly that.

Christophe Riblon (Ag2r-La Mondiale) rescued the beleaguered challenge of his countrymen with what proved to be the only home victory of the Tour. The nature of the stage, and the manner of his victory, ensured it would be a success to savour however, as he powered solo to the finish line. Dropped on the first ascent of the climb, having earlier formed part of a leading group, Riblon’s brave challenge appeared to be over as American Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) burst clear. But buoyed by the huge crowds, Riblon mustered every last reserve of his strength to suddenly burst up the climb once more. He reached van Garderen with the young American’s legs waning, and gave him barely a second glance as he powered beyond him to secure a huge victory – later breaking down in tears as the magnitude of his success washed over him.