2022 Tour de FranceJul 1 - 24

2022 Tour de France: 1 July to 24 July, 2022

Also visit our (1) All Time Hardest Tour de France Climbs, (2) Most Legendary and Famous Climbs of the Tour de France,  and (3) 10 Highest Climbs in TdF History pages.

2022 TOUR DE FRANCE INFORMATION AND CLIMB DETAILS

The most famous bike climb in the world: Alpe d'Huez -- Stage 12, 14 July 2022

Since 1952 - 30 appearances in the TdF.

KOM Corner

Official post-race summary for Stage 21 (July 24):

Jasper Philipsen took the title of most successful sprinter of the 109th Tour de France as he became the only one of them to score for the second time. The Belgian outclassed former Champs-Élysées winners Dylan Groenewegen and Alexander Kristoff to emulate his childhood hero Tom Boonen who also won his second Tour de France stage in Paris at the age of 24 in 2004. Wout van Aert didn’t contest the last sprint to celebrate Jonas Vingegaard’s first overall victory.

Letour.fr - Stage 21

TOP 10 MOST FREQUENT CLIMBS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE

(AND 10 FAMOUS ONES AFTER THAT)

©  PJAMMCycing.com

Interesting 2022 TdF Facts

• Four countries are included in the 2022 TdF:  Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, and France.
• Denmark becomes the 10th and northernmost country to host the start of the race.
• The tour will visit eight regions and 29 departments in France.
• To accommodate transfer from Denmark to France, the tour begins on Friday versus the standard Saturday start.
• Stages: 21 stages from July 1 to July 24.
• First three stages are in Denmark and Stage 6 begins in Belgium (ends in France).
• Distance: 3,350 kilometers (2,079 miles) - the longest tour was in 1926 at 5,745 kilometers (3,570 miles).
• Longest stage: Stage 6 - Binche > Longwy - 220 km (137 mi).
• Elevation gained: 47,861m (157,024’).
• Most elevation gained on a stage: Stage 11 - 4,692m (15,394’).
• Highest point on the 2022 TdF is Col du Galibier (Stage 11 and Stage 12) at 2642m’.
• This is the 109th Tour de France since its first edition in 1903:

• No TdF 1915-1918 (WWI)
• No TdF 1940-1946 (WWII)
• TdF postponed from 27 June 2020, to 29 August 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

• Stages:

• Six mountain stages;
• Seven hilly stages;
• Six flat stages;
• Two individual dual time trials;
• One travel day between Denmark (Stage 3) and France (Stage 4);
• Two rest days (one after Stage 9 and one after Stage 15).

• Stage 4 - Dunkirk to Calais is of exceptional historical significance as it was the valiant stand by Britain’s 30th Infantry Brigade at Calais that allowed the British Expeditionary Force of 338,000 to escape from Dunkirk the first year of WWII.  

• Dunkirk is the most northerly of any former Tour staging town and has been previously included in 19 TdFs.
• Calais is a stage town for the third time in tour history.

• Cobbles return on Stage 5 after a four year absence - 19.4 km of cobbles are split into 11 segments ranging from 1.3 to 2.8 km.

Cobbles of Stage 5 - Tour de France Stage 5. 

• Last five TdF cobble stages were:  2004 (3.9 km), 2010 (13.2 km), 2014 (125.4 km), 2015 (13.3 km) and 2018 (21.7 km).

• Passes of the 2022 TdF:  

• Vosges (1)
• Alps (12)
• Massif Central (1)
• Pyrenees (9)

•  Hardest and Steepest climbs of the 2022 Tour de France:

• Hardest (via Fiets Index):

#1.  Col du Granon (11.4 km, 1101m, 9.7%)

#2.  Col du Galibier (Valloire; 17.4 km, 1199 m, 6.9%)

                #3.  Hautacam (13km, 1060m, 8.2%)

                #4.  Alpe d’Huez (14km, 1081m, 7.7%)

                #5.  Col d’Aubisque (Laruns) (16.7 km, 1193m, 7.1%)

• Steepest climbs of the 2022 TdF (climbs 2 km+):

                #1.  Col du Granon  9.7% (11.4 km)

                #2.  La Planche des Belles Filles 8.4% (7 km)

                #3.  Col de Spandelles 8.3% (10.3 km)

                #4.  Lacets de Montvernier 8.2% (3.4 km)

                #5.  Hautacam 7.9% (13.6 km)

• Steepest kilometer and mile:

• Kilometer:  Mur de Péguère 13.3%
• Mile:  Mur de Péguère 12.8%

• Longest climbs of the 2022 Tour de France:

• Col de la Croix de Fer - 29 kilometers
• Col du Lautaret - 26 kilometers

• HC & Category Climb:  

• There are a total of 61 categorized climbs in the 2022 TdF.
• There are seven HC climbs in this year’s Tour de France, listed below:  

• 10 Category 1 climbs
• 6 Category 2 climbs
• 16 Category 3 climbs
• 22 Category 4 climbs

• Mountains included in tour: Vosges, Alps, Massif Central, and Pyrenees.
• Five mountain top finishes:

• Stage 7:  La Super Planche des Belles-Filles
• Stage 11: Col du Granon 
• Stage 12: Alpe d’Huez - the most famous bike climb in the world  (PJAMM Cycling’s Most Famous Bike Climbs)
• Stage 17: Peyragudes 
• Stage 18:  Hautacam

• Stage 12 is the exact replica of 1986 Stage 18 when Hinault and LeMond crossed the finish riding with hands clasped in the year LeMond slayed the Badger.
• Prize Money:  2.3 million euros (€500,000 to overall winner)
• 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).
• Time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds to the first, second, and third riders across the line on each stage.

Historical Tour de France Facts of Interest

• Climb most often featured in the Tour: Tourmalet - 88 times as of 2022 (Aubisque and Aspin tie at #2 with 73 times each)

From Campan:  16.9 km gaining 1267m at 7.5% average grade.

From Luz Saint Sauveur:  18.7 km gaining 1319m at 7.1%.

• Highest Point ever reached in the Tour de France: Cime de la Bonette, at 2,802 meters

Cime de la Bonette is the highest point ever reached by the Tour de France

2,802 meters - Stage 18 1962 (passed again in 1964, 1993 and 2008).

Five highest points the Tour de France has ever reached.

Also see Top 10 Highest Points of the TdF

• Highest point of first (1903) TdF:  Col de la République (1,161m).

• Most TdF wins:

• Yellow Jersey - overall winner:

• 5 Jacques Anquetil (1957, 1961-1964)
• 5 Eddy Merckx (1969-1972, 1974)

• Merckx has the most Grand Tour wins of anyone (11 - 5 TdF, 5 Giro, 1 Vuelta)

• 5 Bernard Hinault  (1978-1979, 1981-1982, 1985)

• Has the second most Grand Tour wins (10 - 5 TdF, 3 Giro, 2 Vuelta)

• 5 Miguel Indurain (1991-1995)
• 4 Chris Froome:  (2013, 2015-2017)

• Polka Dot (King of the Mountains - since 1933):

• 7 Richard Virenque: 1994-1997, 1999, 2003, 2004 (best tour finish #2 1997)
• 6 Frederico Bahamontes: 1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964; nine in Grand Tours  

• Green Jersey (most points; since 1953)

• 7 Peter Sagan
• 6 Erik Zabel: 1997-2001

• Most days wearing the yellow jersey:

• 111 Eddy Merckx
• 79 Bernard Hinault
• 60 Miguel Indurain

• Most days wearing yellow jersey in a single TdF:

• 21: Jacques Anquetil 1961 - held the yellow jersey from day one.

• Most stage wins:  

• 34 Eddy Merckx
• 30 Mark Cavendish
• 28 Bernard Hinault

• Most stage wins in a single tour:  

• 8 Charles Pélissier, 1930
• 8 Merckx 1970, 1971
• 8 Freddy Maertens 1975

• Most times atop the podium (top three TdF finish):

• 8 Raymond Poulidor

• First mountain stage and climbs in the Tour:

• Stage 10 July 21, 1910: Luchon to Bayonne

• 326 kilometers
• Circle of Death: Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aubisque
• On arriving at the top of Col d’Aubisque Octave Lapize (TdF 1910 winner) yelled to tour organizers what is variously reported as “murderers,” “assasins,” or “criminals.”  He also said he would quit the tour after descending to Laruns, but he rallied to complete the stage and go on to win the 1910 Tour de France.

Circle of Death

Tourmalet was the highest point the tour had ever reached as of 1910 (2115m)

Previous high point had been Col de Porte (1326m)

• First mountain-top stage finish:  Alpe d’Huez (Dutch Mountain / The Alpe) was the first mountain-top finish in the history of the Tour de France in 1952, Stage 10.
• Country wearing the yellow jersey most:  

• France (709)
• Belgium (434).

Frenchmen have been in the maillot jaune far more than any other country.

• Winning TdF in first appearance:

• 11 between 1903 - 1983, but none since Laurent Fignon (1983) until 2020 and Tadej Pogačar 

• Youngest winner of the Tour:  

• Henri Cornet: France, age 19 (1904)
• Tadej Pogačar: Slovenia, age 21 ( 2020)

• Oldest TdF winner:

• Firmin Lambot: Belgium, age 36 (1922)

• Most TdF appearances:

• 18 Sylvain Chavenel (2001-2018 age 42; top finish 19 2009)

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

letour.fr

“Symbol of the mountains, of a rider pushing beyond their limits and of courage, the red polka dot jersey, which is sponsored by Carrefour, is awarded to the Tour de France’s leader of the best climber classification. Although this classification was introduced in 1933, its symbol, the polka dot jersey, appeared in 1975, which was also the year the Tour first finished on the Champs-Élysées and was won by Bernard Thévenet. It owes its appearance to track racing specialist Henri Lemoine, who competed between the 1930s and 1950s, and that Félix Lévitan, co-director of the Tour with Jacques Goddetwhich, had particularly noticed. While Belgium’s Lucien Van Impe was its first winner and claimed the mountains classification six times, just like his illustrious predecessor, Spain’s Federico Bahamontes, the so-called “Eagle of Toledo”, Frenchman Richard Virenque holds the record for victories with seven titles” (Tour de France, Polka Dot Jersey).

• TdF:

• Richard Virenque: 7 (1994-1997, 1999, 2003, 2004; best tour finish #2 1997)
• Frederico Bahamontes: 6 (1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964; nine in Grand Tours)  

• Triples (none ever in the same year):  Frederico Bahamontes and Louis Herrera.
• Doubles same year (TdF+Giro):  Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Lucien Van Impe, Claudio Chaippucci

King of the Mountains is designated by the red polka dot jersey.

• Most green jerseys (total points):

•  7 - Peter Sagan

• Most white jerseys (best young rider):

• 3 - Jan Ullrich (1996-1998),
• 3 Andy Schleck (2008-2010)

• Least finishers:  

• 10 in 1919

• Shortest margin of victory:  

• 8 seconds: 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).

• Greatest margin of victory:

• 2h49’21” in 1903 between Maurice Garin and Lucien Pothier.

• Country with most wins:

• France (36)
• Belgium (18)
• Spain (12)
• Italy (10)
• Britain (6)
• Luxembourg (5)
• USA (3)

• Hardest climb ever in the Tour de France:  Col de la Loze (Meribel).

• See our All Time Top 10 Tour de France Climbs page.

Stage 7 - Mountain Stage #1 

TOMBLAINE>LA SUPER PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES

8 July - 176 km (109 mi) / 2,507m (8,225’)

Commentary from Christian Prudhomme (TdF General Director since 2007): “Although this is the first summit finish of the 2022 Tour, it doesn’t come at the end of an authentic mountain stage. However, Super Planche des Belles Filles always guarantees a high-intensity finish. As the one big climbing test of the day, the gaps at the finish shouldn’t be that substantial, but the riders’ finishing positions will give a strong indication of the form of the podium contenders” (Tour de France Stage 7).

letour.fr - Stage 7

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 7.

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

89 km at 0-5%, 10.6 km at 5-10% and 3 km at 10-15%.

Steepest 500 meters 12.8%, 1 km 11% and 2 km 10%.

PJAMM Cycling Profile Tool - Super La Planch des Belles Filles

1 km at 0-5%, 2.8 km 5-10%, 2.5 km at 10-15% and 200 meters at 15-20%.

Steepest 500 meters is 12.8% and 1 km 11.4%

Stage 9 - Mountain Stage #2 

AIGLE>CHÂTEL LES PORTES DU SOLEIL

10 July - 183 km (114 mi) / 3556m (11,667’)

Commentary from Christian Prudhomme (TdF General Director since 2007): “A demanding week comes to an end with the first authentic mountain test. The riders will have to adjust to a new tempo on the consecutive stages in Switzerland, although they won’t push them to their limits. A breakaway group with a good balance of riders could well take advantage of this comparative gentle entry into the Alps. In the final, a strong rider could impose himself on the Pas de Morgins and take victory in Châtel” (Tour de France Stage 9).

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 2022 Stage 9.

71 km at 0-5% / 33.5 km at 5-10%.

Stage 11 - Mountain Stage #3

ALBERTVILLE>COL DU GRANON SERRE CHEVALIER

13 July - 149 km (93 mi) /3978m (13,051’’)

Commentary from Christian Prudhomme (TdF General Director since 2007): “None of the contenders for the yellow jersey can afford a slip-up today. The climbs are tightly packed, starting with the Montvernier hairpins, then continuing with the crossing of the Télégraphe and Galibier passes. After passing through Serre-Chevalier, 10 kilometres of climbing at an average of more than 9% remain to reach the 2,413-metre Col du Granon, which was the Tour’s highest finishing point for 25 years” (Tour de France Stage 11).

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 2022 Stage 11

PJAMM Cycling Profile Tool - Col du Galibier (Valloire)

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

Stage 12 - Mountain Stage #4 

CÉRET > ANDORRE-LA-VIEILLE

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

Results: TBD

Commentary from Christian Prudhomme (TdF General Director since 2007): “There’s a wink to history here as well as a desire to close the Battle of the Alps on a route tailor- made for the best climbers. It’s an exact replica of the Briançon-Alpe d’Huez stage of 1986, with the ascent of the Galibier once again on the programme, followed by the climb of the Col de la Croix de Fer, before tackling the 21 hairpins leading up to the Isère resort. It will provide an intermediate assessment of the state of play...” (Tour de France Stage 12).

Letour.com - Stage 12

Note - Col du Galibier statistics include Lautaret.

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 12.

See Profile Tool for the location and grade for the steepest segments of TdF 2022 Stage 12

45 km at 0-5%, 37.5 km at 5-10% and 7.2 km at 10-15%.

Stage 17 - Mountain Stage #5 

SAINT-GAUDENS>PEYRAGUDES

20 July - 130 km (81 mi) /3320 m (10,892’))

Commentary from Christian Prudhomme (TdF General Director since 2007): “The scenario is as sumptuous for the spectators as it is demanding for the leaders, who will have to defend their positions. After crossing the Col d’Aspin and the Hourquette d’Ancizan, attacks could come as early as the climb to the Col d’Azet. And in the final, even the best climbers might flounder when tackling the steep gradients towards the Peyragudes altiport... the third runway to success in the 2022 Tour!” (Tour de France Stage 17).

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 2022 Stage 17

57 km at 0-5%, 30.5 km at 5-10% and 1.3 km at 10-15%.

Station de Peyragude

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

Stage 18 - Mountain Stage #6 

LOURDES>HAUTACAM

21 July  143 km (89 mi) /4029 m (13,219’)

Commentary from Christian Prudhomme (TdF General Director since 2007): “The last mountain test presents all kinds of possibilities. Unexpected collapses, ambushes and twists of all kinds could be on the cards thanks to the linking of the Aubisque and Spandelles passes, the latter appearing on the route for the first time, followed by the final ascent to Hautacam. There’s simply no respite. If the leading positions haven’t been secured by this point, the Tour’s biggest battle could be played out on this final Pyrenean stage” (Tour de France Stage 18).

letour.fr - Stage 18

PJAMM Cycling’s Profile Tool analysis of Stage 18.

See Profile Tool for the location and grade for the steepest segments of TdF 2022 Stage 18

39 km at 0-5%, 35 km at 5-10% and 5 km at 10-15%.

Hautacam

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

Steepest 500m 14% and 1 km 11.7%

EXPLANATION OF KING OF MOUNTAIN, KOM POINTS AND BONUS POINTS

FOR THE 2022 TOUR DE FRANCE

KOM DEFINED:  Climb-related points are accumulated during the race.  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 tenth).  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 a HC (hardest), Category 1 (second hardest) on down to Category 4 (least difficult climb).

The category of the climb is significant for two 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, 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)

• TdF:

• Richard Virenque: 7 (1994-1997, 1999, 2003, 2004; best tour finish #2 1997)
• Frederico Bahamontes: 6 (1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964; nine in Grand Tours)  

• Triples (none ever in the same year):  Frederico Bahamontes and Louis Herrera.
• Doubles same year (TdF+Giro):  Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Lucien Van Impe, Claudio Chaippucci

• 2020 & 2021 King of the Mountains:  Tadej Pogačar, Slovenia (also won the TdF and the Young Rider classification)

POINTS:  KOM points are awarded in three 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 eight riders, while CAT 4 points are awarded to only one rider).

• Bonus point (see below).
• Points for altitude finishes.

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

The 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 points), and third (2 points) riders reaching designated summits in the race.  

• There are no KOM bonuses in the 2022 Tour de France.  

MONEY PRIZES FOR KING OF THE MOUNTAINS

• Prize for first to eighth place:

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

• Sourvenir Henri Desgrange €5000 first to Col du Galibier pass Stage 11.

The maximum amount the KOM winner could earn if he won every stage and wore the jersey from Stage 2 to the finish is $60,300 Euros (62,773 USD)