Tour de France
18
The 2004 Tour rides the Champs Élysées
Desgrange was confident enough after the Pyrenees to include the Alps in 1911. The highest climb in the race was the col de la Bonette in the 2008 Tour de France, reaching 2715 m. The highest mountain finish in the Tour was at the col du Granon in 1986. The 2413 m pass was reached first by Eduardo Chozas of Spain. Mountains such as the Galibier, Tourmalet, Alpe d'Huez, Madeleine, Ventoux and Aubisque attract amateur cyclists every day in summer to test their fitness on roads used by champions. The difficulty of a climb is established by its steepness, length and its position on the course. The easiest are graded 4, most of the hardest as 1 and the exceptional (such as the Tourmalet) as beyond classification, or hors catégorie. Notable hors catégorie peaks include the col du Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux, col
du Galibier, the climb to the ski resort of Hautacam, and Alpe d'Huez. Climbs rated "hors catégorie" (HC): 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6 and 5. Category 1: 15, 13, 11, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5. Category 2: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5. Category 3: 4, 3, 2 and 1. Category 4: 3, 2 and 1. For the last climb of a stage, points are doubled for HC and categories one and two. One rider has been King of the Mountains seven times: Two riders have been King of the Mountains six times: Since 1975, there has been a competition for young riders. From 1975 to 1989 and from 2000, the leader has worn a white jersey (maillot blanc in French) One rider has won three times: The prix de la combativité goes to the rider who most animates the day, usually by trying to break clear of the field. The most combative rider wears a number printed white-on-red instead of black-on-white next day. An award goes to the most aggressive rider throughout the Tour. Already in 1908 a sort of combativity award was offered, when Sports Populaires and L'Education Physique created Le Prix du Courage, 100 francs and a
* Lucien van Impe in 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983