Classic Climbs of the Tour de France 2011 Edition – July 14: Luz-Ardiden

Over the years, the high mountains of the Alpes and Pyrenees have produced plenty of drama, intrigue and displays of raw courage during the Tour de France, as strength and fitness are stretched to a breaking point. A single rider normally leaves everyone else in his wake as he crosses the finish line, showing a mixed expression of agony from the effort, but elation at the prize of claiming a classic climb for himself.

We will be profiling the classic climbs of the 2011 edition of the Tour de France in the order they will be ridden. In each profile, we will highlight battles that were waged on each climb through TDF history, as well as who and what to look out for when the riders hit the climb in 2011.

Luz-Ardiden is the first of the classic climbs in the 2011 race, so, we’ll begin here.

Introduced to the Tour de France in 1985, Luz-Ardiden, is 12.5 kilometers (7.8 mile) long with a 7.3% average grade, and is a relative newcomer when it comes to classic climbs in the Tour de France. However,  since it was introduced, it has provided plenty of drama for both riders and viewers. The climb traditionally begins near Luz-Saint-Sauveur and winds past Grust on the way to top via wild exposed switchbacks.

The flat stages of 9 and 10 take the cyclists from the mid-section of France to the mountainous South West Pyrenean region. Starting with Stage 11, the riders will get their first taste of long steep climbs and thin air, which culminates atop Luz-Ardiden. See it on a map here.

Adding to the drama of the 2011 edition of this climb is the fact that the stage takes place on Bastille Day, which is an important holiday in France, celebrating the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. Typically Bastille Day is a day when a French cyclist goes on the attack in attempt to win the day. Thomas Voeckler could take it — his style is to go early in the stage to build up enough lead that the pure climbers can not reach him by the finish. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see one of the GC (general classification) or Polkadot (climbers competition) attempt to draw first blood and stamp his authority on the race. Of course the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank should be in the mix, as well as Alberto Contador (assuming he’s in the race — though that’s another story). We’ll know more regarding who to look out for when the full team rosters are in.

A historical Perspective on Luz-Ardiden:

Many will remember the role Luz-Ardiden played during the 2003 Tour when Lance Armstrong, then riding for US Postal, started the day only seconds ahead of Jan Ullrich, a German riding for Team Bianchi. Most saw this day as the “make or break” day for Armstrong, as Ullrich had taken chunks of time from him during previous climbs and the individual time trial. Many observers believed Ullrich to be stronger than Armstrong that year.

There are a few times in sport when one can witness pure and sheer determination to win, with such singular focus it can be read it in the eyes of the athlete. Lance Armstrong mustered such determination and courage on July 21, 2003 as he climbed Luz-Ardiden and secured his overall lead in the race. Watch the following clip:

Armstrong on Luz-Ardiden – 2003

Back in 1985, the year Luz-Ardiden was introduced to the Tour, this climb saw a battle equally dramatic. But this time drama ensued not because someone attacked, but because someone didn’t, and was told not to. The directors of his La Vie Claire team ordered Greg Lemond, who was in position to attack and win the tour on the slopes of Luz-Ardiden, to sit up and wait for his ailing French teammate and current leader of the race, Bernard Hinault, whom they said was very close behind. Lemond soft pedaled and waited, and waited, and watched his dream of winning the tour disappear.  It turns out that Hinault was more than 3 minutes behind Lemond. Lemond was enraged, because he was clearly stronger than Hinault that year and could have easily won the tour to become the first American ever to win the race. After that stage, a deal was made that that if Lemond continued to help Hinault win one more time in ’85 (his fifth victory), the Frenchman would help Lemond win the following year in 1986. Hinault did not live up to his word and attacked Lemond in the ’86 tour on the road to Pau (also in the Pyrenees). Lemond was forced to counter attack and Hinault had no answer. Lemond finally won his first Tour de France as the first American victor in 1986. Watch the following video showing Lemond and Hinault on Luz-Ardiden in 1985, which pitted the teammates against each other as adversaries.

Lemond on Luz-Ardiden – 1985

July 14, 2011 is not a day to be missed!

Tour de France stage finishes atop Luz-Ardiden

Year	Stage	Category	Start of stage	Distance (km)	Stage winner	Yellow jersey
2003	15	HC	Bagnères de Bigorre	159.5	Lance Armstrong	Lance Armstrong
2001	14	HC	Tarbes	144	Roberto Laiseka	Lance Armstrong
1994	12	HC	Lourdes	204.5	Richard Virenque	Miguel Indurain
1990	16	HC	Blagnac	215	Miguel Indurain	Claudio Chiappucci
1988	15	HC	Saint-Girons	187.5	Laudelino Cubino Gonzalez	Pedro Delgado
1987	14	HC	Pau	166	Dag Otto Lauritzen	Charly Mottet
1985	17	HC	Toulouse	209.5	Pedro Delgado	Bernard Hinault