Cycling: Today there is one at the Tour de France Mountain arrival at Alpe d'Huez on the program. Every cycling fan knows the mythical mountain. With its 21 serpentines, it teaches drivers to fear. But the spectators are happy: Around one million cycling enthusiasts are expected. We look back on 7 crazy stories written in Alpe d'Huez.
1) Alpe d'Huez 1976-1989: The "Mountain of the Dutch" is born
The climb to Alpe d'Huez is considered by many fans of cycling "Mountain of the Dutch" known. However, the reason for this designation goes back a long way. 1952 the ski station was visited for the first time in the Tour de France. First 1976 the peloton was once again a guest in the French village of 1.000 souls. Then the time of the Dutch began. From 1976 – 1989 eight Dutchmen entered the list of winners. It almost seemed as if the flat land would dominate the 21 hairpin bends. But this myth is long gone, since Gert-Jan Theunisse 1989 won in Alpe d'Huez, no Dutchman was allowed to celebrate here anymore. On the contrary: six of the next seven winners came from Italy. Since 1999, however, the Italians have not been able to celebrate success either. The increase in the "Mountain of the French" to walk. The last three editions went to Pierre Rolland, Christophe Riblon and Thibaut Pinot.
2) Alpe d'Huez 1977: escort vehicle takes victory from mountain king Van Impe
The Tour de France is inseparable from the name Lucien van Impe tied together. The Belgian won the mountain jersey six times and, in addition to his overall victory in 1976, finished on the podium three more times. But the strongest climber of his time never won in Alpe d'Huez. In 1977 he was about to marry him Escort vehicle rammed by his implement. Lucien Van Impe was not only denied the day's victory, but also the later overall victory. This secured himself Bernard Thevenet. The Frenchman fought his way to the finish until he lost consciousness Hennie Kuiper was allowed to celebrate the stage win. In Paris, Van Impe was 3:32 minutes behind. Numerous riders didn't even get to the Champs-Elysées because they flew out of the time limit on the stage to Alpe d'Huez. Over 30 professionals were too slow on the road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXGHzEei3ac
3) Alpe d'Huez 1978: Michel Pollentier's urine fraud catches the eye
The 1978 Tour de France is widely known as the most doped Tour de France of all time. According to statistics, more than 50 percent of the participating riders tested positive in the course of their career. It was supposed to catch right away during the Tour de France Michel Pollentier. The winner of the Giro d'Italia and one of the favorites to win the Tour won the mountain finish in Alpe d'Huez on July 16. At the same time, the Belgian took over the yellow jersey – and had to go to a doping control. While everything seemed to be going well for him on the bike that day, everything went wrong during the doping test. Michel Pollentier had a plastic bladder with him that contained foreign urine. Actually, he wanted to cheer this on to the inspectors and thus achieve a negative test. But the fraud was noticed. Pollentier was banned from the Tour de France and suspended for an insane two months. The way was clear for the first overall victory of Bernard Hinault.
4) Alpe d'Huez 1986: The enemy in your own team
One of the best-known pictures of Alpe d'Huez was taken in 1986. At that time, the two teammates were dueling in the Tour de France Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond. The Frenchman won his fifth Tour de France last year and has also been strong this season. But the fan favorite should not be able to add another overall win to his palmarès. His teammate Greg LeMond was responsible for this. The American was equal to the French. On the home stretch in Alpe d'Huez, the two drove hand in hand side by side, beaming with joy. But the harmony was understandably limited. Both wanted to succeed in the Tour de France. At the end of the three weeks, Greg LeMond succeeded. He should then be able to win the Tour of France two more times. But the stage win went to Bernard Hinault in 1986 - by arrangement. Incidentally, it is no exception that the winner in Alpe d'Huez does not win the Tour de France. Overall, only three professionals managed this: 1952 Faust Coppi, 2008 Carlos Tailor and 2001 Lance Armstrong. A very modest number considering that this place has already been visited 29 times.
5) Alpe d'Huez 1991: Gianni Bugno wins again - and doesn't notice it
Every driver dreams of winning at Alpe d'Huez. It's just stupid when you actually cross the finish line first - but don't even notice it. That's what happened in 1991. Gianni bugno had already triumphed the year before and was therefore considered one of the favorites to win the day in that season. The Italian was actually able to pull this off. However, when he defeated his last companions in sprint, he was unaware of his double victory. At first, commentators assumed Gianni Bugno was just too exhausted to celebrate. In the target interview, he cleared up the misunderstanding.
Gianni Bugno:
"I thought there were riders in front of us and I didn't want to appear as an idiot."
6) Alpe d'Huez 1994-1997: The devil's turns are the pirate's turns
Again and again before a stage arrival in Alpe d'Huez from the "Devil's Sweep" to read. The 21 serpentines are considered a Mecca in cycling. But in the middle of the 90s, a pirate took over the mythical mountain finish. The Italian Marco Pantani triumphed in Alpe d'Huez in 1995 and 1997. In his first win, he set a record for all time. He only needed it for the 13,8-kilometer climb with an average incline of 8,1 percent 36 minutes and 40 seconds. Marco Pantani also took second and third place in the list of the best. In 1997 he raced in his inimitable out-of-saddle kick 36:53 up, in 1994 it needed a time of 37:15. Critics put his performance into perspective due to the epo marriage, but there are also some downsides Marco Pantani struggled with during his era. The bikes back then were much heavier than they are today. In addition, the Tour peloton carried out a mountain time trial to Alpe d'Huez in 2004. Although the winner lance Armstrong So if he didn't already have more than 100 kilometers in his legs, he failed because of Pantani's fabulous times - and clearly! The clock stopped at 37:36.
7) Alpe d'Huez 2001: The Look & The Bluff – Armstrong fools Ullrich
As a "The Look" and "The Bluff" An action by. has gone down in the history of cycling lance Armstrong in 2001. The Texan not only applied for the yellow jersey on July 17, but also for an Oscar. With an acting performance he played the dying swan with his team US Postal. After the start in Aix-les-Bains, the American was always at the end of the field. A clear sign: Armstrong is tired. Immediately left Jan Ulrich his teammates work. The pace was increased to get rid of the Tour de France dominator. But it didn't work. Lance Armstrong survived the difficult mountain classifications for the Glandon and the Madeleine. When it finally went up to the ski station in Alpe d'Huez, he suddenly ignited the turbo. But not without looking Jan Ullrich in the eye again. Armstrong drives out almost two minutes and wins the Tour de France.