2021 Tour de FranceJun 26 - Jul 18

2021 Tour de France: 26 June to 18 July, 2021

Map from letour.fr.

Col du Tourmalet -- Stage 18, 15 July 2021

Since 1910 - 84 appearances in the TdF - more than any other climb.

Also visit our Top Bike Climbs in France and Top 10 Hardest Bike Climbs in France pages.

Interesting 2021 TdF facts:

• Stages:  21 stages from 26 June to 18 July.
• Distance:  3,418 kilometers (2,124 miles) - the longest tour was in 1926 at 5,745 kilometers (3,570 miles).
• Longest stage: Stage 7 - Vierzon to Le Creusot - 249.5 km
• Most elevation gained on a stage:  Stage 11 - 4570m (14,993’)
• Highest point on the 2021 TdF will be Port d’Envalira at 2408m.
• This is the 108th Tour de France since its first edition in 1903.
• Stages:

• 6 mountain stages;
• 5 hilly stages;
• 8 flat stages;
• 2 individual dual time trial
• two rest days (1 after stage 9 and one after stage 15)

• HC & Category Climb:

• There are 5 HC climbs in this years Tour de France:  

• 11 Cat 1, 9 Cat 2, 10 Cat 3 and 23 Cat 4 climbs.

• Three mountain top finishes:

• Stage 9:  Montee de Tignes (2113m; the first time Tignes will be featured in the TdF),
• Stage 17:  Col du Portet (HC; 2215m; making its second appearance in the TdF),
• Stage 18:  Luz-Ardiden (HC; 1715m).

• The 2021 Tour includes two ascents of Mont Ventoux on 7 July - first from Salt, then the traditional route from Bedoin.  This is the first time in the history of the TdF that two climbs of Mont Ventoux will occur.
• The most famous climbs of the 2021 Tour de France:  Mont Ventoux and Col du Tourmalet (PJAMM Cycling’s Most Famous Bike Climbs).
• KOM Prize Money:  The maximum amount the KOM winner could earn if he won every stage and wore the jersey from Stage 2 to the finish is $178,250 Euros ($217,351;  see KOM summary at the end of this page).

The tour will ascend Mont Ventoux twice in one stage for the first time in history.

Historical Tour de France facts of interest:

• Most TdF wins:

• Jacques Anquetil: five (1957, 1961-1964),
• Eddy Merckx: five (1969-1972, 1974),
• Bernard Hinault: five (1978-1979, 1981-1982, 1985),
• Miguel Indurain: five (1991-1995),
• Chris Froome: four (2013, 2015-2017; and counting, if the planets align- 👍).

• Most days wearing the yellow jersey: Merckx (96), followed by Hinault (75).
• Most stage wins:  34 (Merckx), 30 (Mark Cavendish), and 28 (Hinault).
• Country wearing the yellow jersey most:  France (709), followed by Belgium (434).
• Winning TdF in first appearance: 11 between 1903 - 1983 but none since Laurent Fignon (1983).
• King of the Mountains -- Mountain Classification victories (first recognized in 1933; jersey introduced 1975)

• Frederico Bahamontes (six: 1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964; nine in Grand Tours)  
• Triples (none ever in the same year):  Bahamontes, Louis Herrera.
• Doubles same year (TdF+Giro):  Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Lucien Van Impe, Claudio Chaippucci

• Climb most often featured in the Tour:  Tourmalet - 84 times as of 2021
• Least finishers:  10 in 1919.
• Shortest margin of victory:  Greg Lemond over Laurent Fignon in 1989 (Lemond overcame 50 seconds in the final time trial using aero bars for the first time in the TdF).

Stage 8 - Mountain Stage #1 

Oyonnax > Le Grand-Bornand

3 July - 151 km (94 mi) /3,438 m (11,280’)

Results: TBD

TdF General Director since 2007, Christian Prudhomme, had this to say about the 2021 Tour De France’s Stage 8:  “After 2009 and 2018, the finish at Le Grand-Bornand will once again be conditioned by the Romme – Colombière climbing sequence. But this time it’ll be preceded by the climb up to Mont-Saxonnex (5,7 km at 8,3%) first ascent towards the Plateau de Solaison, and will therefore offer a triple climb on a distance of over 20 kms at close to 9%. Of course it’ll be a day for the best climbers!” 

Letour.fr - Stage 8

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 8.

Learn how to use the profile tool with this brief video tutorial.

20.3 km at 5-10% average grade, 7.4 km at 4.9%, 1.7 km at 15-20%

Steepest 500 meters 13%, 1 km 12.5% and 2 km 10.5%

PJAMM Cycling Profile Tool - Col de la Colombiere

79% at 5-10%, 19% at 10-15% average grade.

Steepest 500 meters is 11.2% and steepest kilometer 10.7%

Stage 9 - Mountain Stage #2 

Cluses > Tignes

4 July - 145 km (90 mi) /4,392 m (14,409’)

Results: TBD

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 9: “We had promised that we would rapidly return to Tignes to erase the frustration of the missed rendez-vous of 2019. The Tour will respect its word by going up the Col du Pré for the second time and of course the majestic Cormet de Roselend before heading up the long final ascent that sneaks up under the dam all the way to the Val Claret.”

Note:  The Cormet de Roselend link is to the combined Col du Pré and Cormet de Roselend PJAMM Cycling climb page.

Letour.fr - Stage 9

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 9.

See Profile Tool for the location and grade for the steepest segments of TdF 2021 Stage 9

PJAMM Cycling Profile Tool - Montée de Tignes

See Profile Tool for the location and grade of this climb’s steepest segments.

Stage 11 - Mountain Stage #3 

Cluses > Tignes

4 July - 145 km (90 mi) /4,570 m (14,993’)

Iconic radio tower atop Venoux is visible as we ascend the mountain.  

Results: TBD

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 11: “Five years after a windy visit, the Tour returns to the Giant of Provence that has become a Regional Natural Parc, for a double climb (including the almost unprecedented one going through Sault) and a finish at the bottom. A fine way to salute the initiative of the Conseil départemental of Vaucluse that refurnished the summit road for cyclists.”

Mont Ventoux - known as the Bald Mountain.

Letour.fr - Stage 11

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 11.

See Profile Tool for the location and grade for the steepest segments of TdF 2021 Stage 11

PJAMM Cycling Profile Tool - Mont Ventoux (Bedoin)

See Profile Tool for the location and grade of this climb’s steepest segments.

Stage 15 - Mountain Stage #4 

CÉRET > ANDORRE-LA-VIEILLE

11 July - 192 km (119 mi) /4,379 m (14,367’)

Results: TBD

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 15: “A start in Céret for the first ever time, a first stop in the Pyrénées-Orientales area since 2009 and Thomas Voeckler’s victory in Perpignan, a journey through Prades, Font-Romeu, the col de Puymorens, the Port d'Envalira and Beixalis with slopes that are as tough to climb as they are tricky to descend: the Principality will crown a real king of the mountains.”

Letour.fr - Stage 15

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 15.

See Profile Tool for the location and grade for the steepest segments of TdF 2021 Stage 15

Stage 17 - Mountain Stage #5 

Muret > Saint-Lary-Soulan Col Du Portet

14 July - 178 km (111 mi) /4,124 m (13,530’)

Results: TBD

Col de Portet is one of the hardest climbs ever included in the TdF.

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 17:   “The Tour resumes from the bottom of the Pyrenees to face them differently with this stage that has two faces, with a big chain ring on over 100 kilometres before taking on three major obstacles in a row: Peyresourde, Val Louron-Azet and to finish off, the 16-km climb at an average gradient close to 9% of the unforgiving Col du Portet. Big efforts required for what promises to be quite a show.”

Letour.fr - Stage 17.

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 17.

See Profile Tool for the location and grade for the steepest segments of TdF 2021 Stage 17

Stage 18 - Mountain Stage #6 

Pau > Luz Ardiden

15 July  131 km (81 mi) /3502 m (11,490’)

Results: TBD

Col du Tourmalet

84 appearances TdF 1910-2021

The most appearances of any climb.

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 18:  “Dense, tense, selective with the climbs up two giants of the Pyrenees: the Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden, where the verdict of the final mountain battle will be known. The climbing type leaders will have to find a way to gain enough time in the GC on those who are better in time-trials.”

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 18.

See Profile Tool for the location and grade for the steepest segments of TdF 2021 Stage 18

Col du Tourmalet (Sainte-Marie de Campan)

See Profile Tool for the location and grade of this climb’s steepest segments.

Luz Ardiden

See Profile Tool for the location and grade of this climb’s steepest segments. (Profile Tool)

EXPLANATION OF KING OF MOUNTAIN, KOM POINTS AND BONUS POINTS

FOR THE 2021 TOUR DE FRANCE

KOM DEFINED:  Climb-related points are accumulated during the race and the rider with the most accumulated points at the beginning of the stage wears the red polka dot jersey that day and the rider with the most points at the end of the race is crowned that year’s Tour de France King of the Mountains.

“Category”:  When the mountain classification (King of the Mountains) was introduced in 1933, there were points given to the first 10 riders over the summit (10 for first, 1 for 10th).  In 1947, the Tour introduced two climb “categories” with a certain amount of points for the second category and twice as many as for the first category.  Over the years “categories” were added, in addition to an “Above” category (Hors or HC) and since 1979 there have been an HC (hardest), Category 1 (second hardest) on down to Category 4 (least difficult climb).

The category of the climb is significant for 2 reasons:

• The points awarded for the TdF KOM for each climb is based upon the category of climb - thus, “category” is the basis for the points that are used to determine each year’s King of the Mountains.
• Most cycling fans, particularly Grand Tour fans, are very interested in the climb “category” because that tells them how hard each climb on a stage is and where the riders will struggle more and the point in a stage where that day, or even the entire tour, will be won or lost.

KOM HISTORY:  King of the Mountains -- Mountain Classification victories (first recognized in 1933; jersey introduced 1975)

• Frederico Bahamontes (six: 1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964; nine in Grand Tours)  
• Triples for a career (none ever in the same year):  Bahamontes, Louis Herrera.
• Doubles same year (TdF+Giro):  Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Lucien Van Impe, Claudio Chaippucci
• 2020 King of the Mountains:  Tadej Pogačar, Slovenia (also wond the TdF and the Young Rider classification)

POINTS:  KOM points are awarded in two ways on the Tour de France:

•  To riders first over the summit of categorized climbs (in descending order HC, 1-4).  

• The higher the category the more riders receive points (HC points are awarded to 8 riders while CAT 4 points are awarded to only 1 rider).

• Bonus point (see below).

TDF POINTS FORMULA:

Wikipedia has the best summary and graph we’ve seen for TdF KOM points distribution:

he points gained by consecutive riders reaching a mountain top are distributed according to the following classification:

Wikipedia - Mountains Classification - Tour de France

BONUS POINTS:  These points go towards the King of the Mountain designation and are awarded to the first (8 points), second (5) and third (2) riders reaching designated summits in the race.  

This year’s points are given at the top of the following climbs:

Stage 2: Mûr-de-Bretagne (first passage)

Stage 7: Signal d’Uchon

Stage 8: Col de la Colombière

Stage 11: Mont Ventoux, second passage

Stage 14: Col de Saint-Louis

Stage 15: Col de Beixalis

MONEY PRIZES FOR KING OF THE MOUNTAINS

• Prize for First to 4th place:

• Winner = €25,000
• 2nd = €15,000
• 3rd = €10,000
• 4th = €4,000, 5th €3,500, 6th €3,000, 7th €2,500, and 8th €2,000

• Daily prize for wearing the Polka Dot jersey = €6,000
• Per category climb:

• HC

• 1st = €800
• 2nd = €450
• 3rd = €300

• Cat 1

• 1st = €650
• 2nd = €400
• 3rd = €150

• Cat 2

• 1st = €500
• 2nd = €250

• Cat 3

• 1st = €300

• Cat 4

• 1st = €200

Jacques Goddet Souvenir (Stage 18 Col du Tourmalet) = €5000

Henri Desgrange Souvenir (Stage 15 Port D’Envalira) = €5000

The maximum amount the KOM winner could earn if he won every stage and wore the jersey from Stage 2 to the finish is $178,250 Euros ($217,351)