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]

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 was not 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 1860 30 26 1979 2022 [2] In 2013, the Alpe d'Huez was visited twice on Stage 18, firstly crossing below the summit at 1765m before returning as the stage finish at the designated 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 6 6 2007 2020 [6]
Plateau de Beille 1780 6 6 1998 2015 [7]
Col de la Bonette 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 2022 [10] Shares the same slopes from the col du Glandon on two sides.
Col du Galibier 2645 58 21 1979 2022 [11] Highest stage finish in the history of the Tour de France.
In 2015, the climb was scheduled to be used, but ultimately was not 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 5 4 2012 2020 [13] In the 2016 tour, the Col du Grand Colombier was climbed twice on Stage 15. First as an HC climb of 1483 meters and then as a category 1 ascent of 893 meters.
Col du Grand Saint-Bernard 2465 5 1 2009 2009 [14]
Col du Granon 2413 2 2 1986 2022 [15]
Hautacam 1560 5 5 1994 2022 [16]
Col de l'Iseran 2770 6 3 1992 2019 [17] In the 2019 tour, GC times were taken from the top of the Col de l'Iseran when Stage 19 was neutralized due to landslides on the descent
Isola 2000 1900 1 1 1993 1993 [18]
Col d'Izoard 2360 35 9 1986 2019 [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 1160 1 1 1984 1984 [23] Lowest Hors Catégorie climb to date.
Col de la Lombarde 2351 1 1 2008 2008 [24]
Col de la Loze 2304 1 1 2020 2020 [25] Steepest maximum gradient (24%) of any Hors Catégorie climb to date
Luz Ardiden 1715 9 9 1985 2021 [26]
Col de la Madeleine 1993 25 17 1980 2020 [27]
Col du Mont-Cenis 2083 5 1 1999 1999 [28]
Port de Pailhères 2001 5 4 2005 2013 [29]
Pla d'Adet 1669 10 5 1981 2014 [30] The 1982 Tour de France finish was planned to end at another location, the Col de Portet, but was ultimately cancelled and the finish line was moved back to Pla d'Adet.[citation needed]
Plateau des Glières 1390 2 2 2018 2020 [31]
Puy de Dôme 1415 13 2 1983 2023 [32] Only climb in the Massif Central to have received the Hors Catégorie rating
Col du Soudet 1540 6 2 1987 2023 [33]
Col du Soulor 1474 22 1 1982 1982 [34] Usually climbed while descending the col d'Aubisque from its west side.
Superbagnères 1770 6 1 1986 1986 [35]
Col du Tourmalet 2115 90 28 1980 2021 [36] No. of times visited includes stage finishes at La Mongie.
Val Thorens 2365 2 2 1994 2019 [37]
Mont Ventoux 1909 18 8 1987 2021 [38] In 2021, the Ventoux was climbed twice, the first ascent started from Sault and was a 1st category climb while the second ascent started from Bédoin and was categorized HC.
Col de la Pierre St Martin 1610 1 1 2015 2015 [39]
Finhaut-Emosson 1960 1 1 2016 2016 [40]
Montée de Bisanne 1723 1 1 2016 2016 [41]
Col de la Biche 1316 1 1 2017 2017 [42]
Mont du Chat 1504 1 1 2017 2017 [43]
Col de Portet 2215 2 2 2021 2021 [44]

See also

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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