Themountains of the Tour de France determine the winner of the stage race. It isn't untilthe peloton hits thecraggy peaks of the Alps and Pyrenees that the GC starts to shake out and it becomes clear who the strongest riders are.If you've ever wondered how you'dstand up to those leg-burningbeasts, you're in luck. (And you don't even have to travelto Europe.)We took four iconicclimbs of the 2016 Tour and compared them to U.S.ascents. Hill climb, anyone?
Col du Tourmalet toMount Baldy Road, Claremont, California
TheTourmaletis the most climbed pass in the history of the Tour,with 78 ascents including two different stages in both 1974 and 2010. The MountBaldyclimb in southern California is a hallmark of theAmgenTour of California. It's steep at the bottom and the top,with a heart-breakingkicker to the finish. Anascent under two hours is considered fast. Under an hour and you'reTour-caliber.
Col du Tourmalet
Length: 11.8 mi
Base elevation: 2312
Summit elevation:6938
Total gain: 4626
: 7.4%
Max grade: 11%
Mount Baldy
Length: 12.9 mi
Base elevation: 1644ڳ
Summit elevation: 6419ڳ
Total gain: 4775ft
: 7.0%
Max grade: 15%
Col d'Aspin toRabbit Ears Pass, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
While the Cold'Aspindoesn't have the huge elevation gains of theTourmaletorVentoux,it's consistent 6.5 percentgrade has exposed the weaknesses of Tour contenders since itsfirst inclusion in 1910. Rabbit Ears Pass offers the same steady grade as it climbs out of Steamboat Springs to its westernsummit. A time under 45 minutes is excellent.Under one hour and you're at the top of the amateur pack.
Col d'Aspin
Length: 7.3 mi
Base elevation: 2312ft
Summit elevation: 4888ft
Total gain: 2576ft
: 6.5%
Max grade: 9.5%
Rabbit Ears Pass(West)
Length: 7.4 mi
Base Elevation: 6925 ft
Summit elevation: 9394ft
Total gain: 2469ft
: 6.3%
Max grade: 8%
Mont Ventoux toOnion Valley Road, Independence, California
MontVentouxis nicknamed the Giant of Provence for good reason. FromBedoin,on its south side,thelandscape looks lunar, providinglittle respite from the long, unrelenting ascent. Onion Valley Road is considered one of the hardest climbs in the country.The altitude, summer heat,and steep, relentlessgrade make this a genuinesufferfest. Bring low gears.If you can tackle this beast in under two hours, consider racing in Europe.
Mont Ventoux
Length: 13.3 mi
Base elevation: 984ft
Summit elevation: 6272ft
Total gain: 5288ft
: 7.5%
Max grade: 12%
Onion Valley Road
Length: 12.5 mi
Base elevation: 3994 ft
Summit elevation: 9163 ft
Total gain: 5169ft
Average grade: 7.8%
Max grade: 12%
Col de la Ramaz toLittle Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah
The Col de laRamazis gaining popularity,having appeared in three of the past 13 Tours.It has a particularly nasty section of 9 to11 percent grade, much ofwhich is inside a tunnel.The Little Cottonwood Canyon climb,a fixture of the Tour of Utah for many years, haslike theRamaz, a section in the middle called Tanner Flat that'sespecially taxing. Completing the ascent in under an hour is exceptional. If you can do it under and hour and a half,you're stilllooking good.
Col de la Ramaz
Length: 8.6 mi
Base elevation: 2076ft
Summit elevation: 5311ft
Total gain: 3235 ft
Average grade: 7.1%
Max grade: 11%
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Length: 8.6 mi
Base elevation: 5140 ft
Summit elevation: 8530 ft
Total gain: 3390 ft
Average grade: 7.5%
Max grade: 10%