The mountains return to the forefront during the 109th edition of the Tour de France, celebrating its grand départ on Friday, July 1st. The 176 riders taking the starting line will face six mountain stages, with 5 summit finishes throughout the 3,329 km trek around France. FloBikes break each mountain stage down, looking at the historic battles fought and the expectations of what is to come. 

Stage 7: Tomblaine – La Super Planche Des Belles Filles, 176 KM

After its debut in 2012, Tomblaine will be welcoming the Tour for the third time as the riders embark to reach the first summit finish of the 2022 Tour. The first half of the stage is relatively flat, allowing the legs to warm up and recover from the first week of racing. The first categorized climb occurs after the one and only intermediate sprint of the day. They hit the 3.1km Col de Grosse Pierre soon after, a category 3 climb that reaches 955m in altitude and peaks at 6.4% gradient. 

Following a quick descent and a few bumps along the way, the next climb is another category 3. The 3.2 km climb peaks near the same gradient at 6.3%. These two climbs will act as a warm up for the final 7 kilometer-long climb of La Super Planche Des Belles Filles.

This summit finish, nicknamed, “the little Alpe d’Huez,” was made famous in 2020, when Tadej Pogačar overturned the GC lead in a dramatic time trial battle against Primoz Roglič. He would go on to celebrate becoming the youngest champion to ever win the yellow jersey in Paris. Other notable riders in the peloton will be Thibaut Pinot, who calls the town home and Chris Froome, remembering when he celebrated his first Tour stage win here in 2012, one year before his first overall victory. 

The 8.7% gradient climb is not expected to create much gaps this time around, but rather show racing fans who are in form and prepared to tackle the big feats ahead. 

Stage 9: Aigle – Châtel Les Portes Du Soleil, 192.9 KM

After a brief respite on stage 8, the mountains will call once again, for the first major test of the mountain goats in the peloton. After starting in Aigle, the capital of cycling where the UCI calls home, the course will begin its upward trajectory with a category 4 climb. Following an intermediate sprint, allowing the fast men some points before establishing the grupetto, the climbing continues on the category 2, 13.3km Col des Mosses. Following a quick dipping descent, it is back up again, this time for 8.1km Col de la Croix, a category 1 mountain. 

If the first two climbs hadn't shocked the legs enough, the Tour organizers threw in one last category 1 about 10km before the finish – the 15.4km Pas de Morgins at 1,377m in altitude. The Tour first stopped here in 1975, when Lucien Van Impe won the stage wearing the mountains jersey. The finish would become widely known after numerous appearances in cycling from the Critérium du Dauphiné, to the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de l’Avenir. 

Stage 11: Albertville – Col Du Granon Serre Cheva, 152 KM

The GC contenders will need to be ready to focus after the first rest day and rolling hills in stage 10. Stage 11 will hit them again and again with three cols that are tightly packed as they enter the Alps. The day will get started with the Montvernier switchbacks. If Geraint Thomas has maintained the form he displayed recently at the Tour de Suisse, all eyes will be upon him. Albertville is where Thomas took the yellow jersey back in 2018 and held it through to Paris. 

The summit finish atop Col du Granon held the grand esteem of being the highest point in the Tour for 25 years before the title was taken by the Galibier in 2011. It made its debut in 1986, when Eduardo Chozas soared to victory after an astonishing 170 km solo breakaway. That same finish marked the end of the yellow jersey reign of Bernard Hinault, when he surrendered his 79th maillot jaune to American Greg Lemond. 

This first major test in the Alps will determine if Pogačar is ready to defend for a record third time in hopes of joining the legends - Louison Bobet, Jacques Anquetil, and the Cannibal himself, Eddy Merckx - in winning 3 consecutive Tours. 

Stage 12: Briançon – Alpe d’Huez, 165.5 KM

A historic favorite is set for stage 12 as the battle in the Alps comes to a close on the infamous Alpe d’Huez. The route is an exact replica of the stage in 1986. Racing fans should expect to see a lot of trainers out and riders warming up before the start of this stage. The grand Col du Galibier awaits them only 33 km into the stage. After a fast and technical descent, the Col de la Croix de Fer will be up next before the crowds and Dutch corner explode with excitement, willing each rider up the 21 switchbacks with their screams of “Allez!!” at every turn. 

This will be the 31st appearance by the Alpe d’Huez, 70 years after summit finishes were first introduced. Both Pierre Rolland and Thibaut Pinot have enjoyed victories here for the host nation. Time will tell who will be next to add their name to the history book atop this legendary mountain. 

Stage 17: Saint-Gaudens – Peyragudes, 130 KM 

Tour de France Race Director, Christian Prudhomme, says this penultimate climbing stage will be the third runway to success in the 2022 Tour. The start in Saint-Gaudens has a dramatic history, from Gino Bartoli’s protest that triggered a feud between France and Italy, to the multiple riders who have stolen the maillot jaune. Tour leaders will have to put on their best poker face if they hope to defend their positions. 

The first of 3 category 1 climbs launches midway into the stage in the heart of the Pyrenees. The last time the Tour finished here was in 2017, when Romain Bardet (now racing for Team DSM) emerged solo on the steep run-in to the finish, ahead of Italian Fabio Aru, and Colombian star, Rigoberto Uran. Alejandro Valverde was the first victor here in 2012. While the Tour has passed through Peyragudes dozens of times, 2022 will be only the third time they will host a stage finish. 

Stage 18: Lourdes – Hautacam, 143 KM

This final test in the mountains of the Pyrenees, will give no respite for the weary. No matter what the gaps are between the leaders, expect fireworks on the stage. Organizers were able to link the first Hors Catégorie Col d’Aubisque with the Col de Spandelles for the first time in Tour history, with not a moment to breathe in between the two. 

The final Hautacam ascent was where Cadel Evans’ made his move in 2008, stealing the lead by a mere second from Frank Schleck. Vincenzo Nibali took his fourth stage victory here in 2014 and the yellow jersey before celebrating on the Champs-Elysées. Racing fans will miss him as he is set to retire at the end of the season. 

The final stage in the Pyrenees should not disappoint, whether it is Tadej Pogačar fighting for a hat trick or coming from behind Primoz Roglič or an upset by Michael Woods or Geraint Thomas. The riders will surely put on a spectacular show as the curtain closes on the 2022 battle in the mountains.