Perched among the towering mountain peaks of Isère is the resort of Alpe d’Huez. At 1,860m, it’s the third highest in the French Alps, famous for its family-friendly skiing, stunning views and bountiful alpine hiking trails. But when the snow melts away for summer, the mountain begins to attract a different type of tourist.
From early June to late October, the clatter of ski boots on cobblestone is replaced by clicking of cleats and the whoosh of rubber on hot tarmac, as cyclists flock to the area in their thousands.
Over the years, the winding mountain pass leading up to the resort has served as a backdrop for some of the most memorable moments in pro-cycling history. The late, great Marco Pantani famously completed the 13.8km climb in a still-unbeaten time of 37 minutes back in 1995, and it has featured in the Tour de France no less than 32 times.
To cyclists, it’s a sporting landmark akin to Silverstone or Wembley. The key difference is that anyone can come and pit themselves against the iconic 21 hairpin bends.
And I mean anyone.
Katia Lamb is an Alpe d’Huez local who has been running her bike shop, Cycle Huez, for 14 years with her husband Oli. The couple have watched firsthand as the proliferation of e-bikes has made the mountain more accessible.
“People who might have struggled to get up previously are now able to, thanks to e-bikes,” Katia explains. “Maybe you’re an older cyclist, a partner of a keen cyclist, or just someone who wants to explore the area – hopping on an e-bike will allow you to keep pace and enjoy the sights without the effort.”
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The Alpe d’Huez climb starts in the town of Bourg d’Oisans and snakes its way up 3,670ft to the resort. Both areas are home to countless ski shops, many of which turn their focus to bike rentals over the summer months. Katia’s shop provides high-end pedal-powered road bikes for those who want to cycle without the help of a battery, but there are lots of other establishments providing motor-assisted options to suit all body types and budgets.
I’m staying in Alpe d’Huez, so I chose to pick my e-bike up from a shop there. This way, I can zip down to Bourg d’Oisans, enjoy the climb at a leisurely pace and drop the bike back when I’m…
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