Hors catégorie




Hors catégorie (HC) is a French term used in stage bicycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization". The term was originally used for those mountain roads where cars were not expected to be able to pass.


The HC climb is the most difficult type of climb in a race. It is more demanding than a Category 1 climb which in turn is more demanding than a Category 2 climb and so on. The easiest category is Category 4.


These five categories are defined by their steepness and length. In addition, their position on the route can play a role. For instance, a climb that would normally be a Category 1 climb can become a HC climb if it is the final climb of a stage.


The average HC climb in the Tour de France from 2012 to 2016 is 16.1 kilometers long and has a grade of 7.4. There are around 7 HC climbs per Tour.[1]




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 Tour de France


  • 3 See also


  • 4 Notes





History


When the mountains classification in the Tour de France originated in the 1933 Tour de France, there was only one type of mountain. Points were given to the first cyclists to cross the mountains, starting with 10 points for the first cyclist, going down to 1 point for the tenth cyclist. After the Second World War, in the 1947 Tour de France, the mountains were divided into two categories, the first and the second category. The first category mountains gave 10 points to the first cyclist, similar to before 1939, and the second category mountains gave only 5 points to the first cyclist.


The division in categories was successful, and two years later, in 1949, the third category was added. These were even smaller mountains, which gave 3 points to the cyclist reaching the peak first.


In 1962, the fourth category was added. The points system was also revised: the first category now gave 15 points for the first cyclist, the second category 10 points, the third category 5 points and the fourth category 3 points.
Although the fourth category disappeared in 1963, it came back again in 1964. The system with four categories kept in place until 1978, although the points distribution changed over the years.


In 1979, four categories was considered not enough, and another category was added. Instead of adding a fifth category, the Tour organisation decided to add a hors catégorie.



Tour de France


The following climbs used in the Tour de France have been ranked "Hors catégorie" at least once.

















































































































































































































































































































































































































































Col
Height (m.)
No. of times
visited
No. of HC
climbs
First time
as HC climb
Most recent
Profile[2]
Notes

Col Agnel
2744
2
2

2008

2011

[1]
The first appearance of the climb in 2008 wasn't planned initially, as the stage was designed to go through the Maddalena Pass. Due to a seismic risk on the pass, the route was changed three months before the start of the race and the Col Agnel was included.[citation needed]

Alpe d'Huez
1850/1860
30
26

1979

2018

[2]
In 2013, the Alpe was visited twice on Stage 18, firstly crossing below the summit at 1765m before returning as the stage finish at the summit (1850m).

Andorra Arcalis
2240
3
3

1997

2016

[3]


Annecy-Semnoz
1655
2
1

2013

2013

[4]
In 1998, the Semnoz (known as Crêt de Châtillon) was part of the route and was a 1st category climb. However, during the stage, racers went on strike to protest against the excessive police measures. The stage, although fully completed, was declared void.[citation needed]

Col d'Aubisque
1709
48
14

1980

2012

[5]
No. of times visited includes stage finishes at Gourette

Port de Balès
1755
5
5

2007

2017

[6]


Plateau de Beille
1780
6
6

1998

2015

[7]


Col de la Bonette
2715/2802
4
2

1993

2008

[8]
Highest Hors Catégorie climb to date.

Chamrousse
1730
2
2

2001

2014

[9]


Col de la Croix-de-Fer
2067
19
11

1989

2017

[10]
Shares the same slopes from the col du Glandon on two sides.

Col du Galibier
2556/2645
57
20

1979

2017

[11]
Highest stage finish in the history of the Tour de France.
In 2015, the climb was scheduled to be used, but ultimately wasn't due to landslides. The Col de la Croix de Fer was used instead.

Col du Glandon
1924
13
5

1981

2015

[12]


Col du Grand Colombier
1501
3
3

2012

2017

[13]


Col du Grand Saint-Bernard
2465
5
1

2009

2009

[14]


Col du Granon
2413
1
1

1986

1986

[15]


Hautacam
1560
5
5

1994

2014

[16]


Col de l'Iseran
2770
5
2

1992

2007

[17]


Isola 2000
1900
1
1

1993

1993

[18]


Col d'Izoard
2360
34
8

1986

2017

[19]


Col de Joux-Plane
1691
12
7

1981

2016

[20]


La Plagne
1980
4
4

1984

2002

[21]


Port de Larrau
1573
2
2

1996

2007

[22]


La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse
1160
1
1

1984

1984

[23]
Lowest Hors Catégorie climb to date.

Col de la Lombarde
2351
1
1

2008

2008

[24]


Luz Ardiden
1715
8
8

1985

2011

[25]


Col de la Madeleine
1993
25
17

1980

2013

[26]


Col du Mont-Cenis
2083
5
1

1999

1999

[27]


Port de Pailhères
2001
5
4

2005

2013

[28]


Pla d'Adet
1669
10
5

1981

2014

[29]

1982 Tour de France finish was planned to end at the Col de Portet, but was ultimately cancelled and the finish line was moved back to Pla d'Adet.[citation needed]

Puy de Dôme
1415
13
2

1983

1986

[30]
Only climb in the Massif Central to have received the Hors Catégorie rating

Col du Soudet
1540
6
2

1987

2006

[31]


Col du Soulor
1474
22
1

1982

1982

[32]
Usually climbed while descending the col d'Aubisque from its west side.

Superbagnères
1770
6
1

1986

1986

[33]


Col du Tourmalet
2115
88
26

1980

2016

[34]
No. of times visited includes stage finishes at La Mongie.

Val Thorens
2275
1
1

1994

1994

[35]


Mont Ventoux
1909
16
7

1987

2016

[36]


Col de la Pierre St Martin
1610
1
1

2015

2015

[37]


Finhaut-Emosson
1960
1
1

2016

2016

[38]


Montee de Bisanne
1723
1
1

2016

2016

[39]


Col de la Biche
1316
1
1

2017

2017

[40]


Mont du Chat
1504
1
1

2017

2017

[41]


Col de Portet
2215
1
1

2018

2018

[42]



See also



  • List of highest paved roads in Europe

  • List of mountain passes



Notes





  1. ^ Analysis of categorized climbs at Danskebjerge.dk


  2. ^ All profiles are on Le Tour de France depuis 1947 (in French)










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