2022 Tour de FranceJul 1 - 24

2022 Tour de France: 1 July to  13 July, 2022

2022 TOUR DE FRANCE INFORMATION AND CLIMB DETAILS

Map from letour.fr.

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

Since 1952 - 30 appearances in the TdF.

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

Interesting 2022 TdF facts:

• 4 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 8 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 3 stages are in Denmark and Stage 6 begins in Belgium (ends in France).
• Distance:  3,329 kilometers (2,068 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:  48,530m (159,219’)
• 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 to 29 August, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

• Stages:

• 6 mountain stages;
• 7 hilly stages;
• 6 flat stages;
• 2 individual dual time trial
• 1 travel day between Denmark (Stage 3) and France (Stage 4)
• two rest days (1 after stage 9 and one after stage 15)

• Stage 4 - Dunkerque 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 Dunkerque the first year of WWII.  

• Dunkirk is the northerly of any former Tour staging town and has been previously included in 19 TdF’s.
• Calais is a stage town for the 3rd time in tour history.

•  Cobbles - return on stage 5 after a 4 year absence - 19.4 km of cobbles are split into 11 segments ranging from 1.3 to 2.8 km.

Cobbles of Stage 5 - https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-5 

• Last 5 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).

•  Mountains of the 2022 TdF:  The Vosges, Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees.
• 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%

• HC & Category Climb:  NOT YET RELEASED

• There are a total of ___ categorized climbs in the 2022 TdF.
• There are __ HC climbs in this years Tour de France:  

• __ Cat 1, __ Cat 2, __ Cat 3 and __ Cat 4 climbs [NOT YET RELEASED]

• 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 secons to the first, second and hird riders across the line on each stage.

Historical Tour de France facts of interest:

• Most TdF wins:

• 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)

• Most days wearing the yellow jersey:

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

• 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 3 TdF finish):

• Raymond Poulidor (8)

• Country wearing the yellow jersey most:  

• France (709)
• Belgium (434).

• 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)

• TdF:

• Richard Virenque: 7 - 1994-1997, 1999, 2003, 2004 (best tour finish #2 1997)
• Frederico Bahamontes (six: 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

• Most green jerseys (total points):

•  7 (Peter Sagan)

• Most white jerseys (best young rider):

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

• Climb most often featured in the Tour:

• Tourmalet - 84 times as of 2021

• 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)

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.”  https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-7 

https://www.letour.fr/en/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’)

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 9: “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.

https://www.letour.fr/en/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%

PJAMM Cycling Profile Tool - Montée de Tignes

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

NOTE - this is 2021

Stage 11 - Mountain Stage #3 

ALBERTVILLE>COL DU GRANON SERRE CHEVALIER

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

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 11: “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.”

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

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 12: “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..”

https://www.letour.fr/en/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’))

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 17:   “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!.”

https://www.letour.fr/en/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’)

Christian Prudhomme Comments - Stage 18:  “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.”

https://www.letour.fr/en/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%.

Hatautacam

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 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)

• 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 (six: 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 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 bonus 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)