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]
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.
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]
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).
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]
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.
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.
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.
^Analysis of categorized climbs at Danskebjerge.dk
^All profiles are on Le Tour de France depuis 1947 (in French)
May 20, 2023
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Hors categorie 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 NotesHistory EditWhen 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 categorie Tour de France EditThe following climbs used in the Tour de France have been ranked Hors categorie at least once Col Height m No of times visited No of HC climbs First time as HC climb Most recent Profile 2 NotesCol de la Loze 2304 1 1 2020 2020 1 Steepest maximum gradient 24 of any Hors Categorie climb to dateCol Agnel 2744 2 2 2008 2011 2 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 3 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 4 Annecy Semnoz 1655 2 1 2013 2013 5 In 1998 the Semnoz known as Cret de Chatillon 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 6 No of times visited includes stage finishes at GourettePort de Bales 1755 6 6 2007 2020 7 Plateau de Beille 1780 6 6 1998 2015 8 Col de la Bonette 2802 4 2 1993 2008 9 Highest Hors Categorie climb to date Chamrousse 1730 2 2 2001 2014 10 Col de la Croix de Fer 2067 19 11 1989 2022 11 Shares the same slopes from the col du Glandon on two sides Col du Galibier 2645 58 21 1979 2022 12 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 13 Col du Grand Colombier 1501 5 4 2012 2020 14 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 15 Col du Granon 2413 2 2 1986 2022 16 Hautacam 1560 5 5 1994 2022 17 Col de l Iseran 2770 6 3 1992 2019 18 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 descentIsola 2000 1900 1 1 1993 1993 19 Col d Izoard 2360 35 9 1986 2019 20 Col de Joux Plane 1691 12 7 1981 2016 21 La Plagne 1980 4 4 1984 2002 22 Port de Larrau 1573 2 2 1996 2007 23 La Ruchere 1160 1 1 1984 1984 24 Lowest Hors Categorie climb to date Col de la Lombarde 2351 1 1 2008 2008 25 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 Pailheres 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 Glieres 1390 2 2 2018 2020 31 Puy de Dome 1415 13 2 1983 1986 32 Only climb in the Massif Central to have received the Hors Categorie ratingCol du Soudet 1540 6 2 1987 2006 33 Col du Soulor 1474 22 1 1982 1982 34 Usually climbed while descending the col d Aubisque from its west side Superbagneres 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 Bedoin and was categorized HC Col de la Pierre St Martin 1610 1 1 2015 2015 39 Finhaut Emosson 1960 1 1 2016 2016 40 Montee 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 EditList of highest paved roads in Europe List of mountain passesNotes Edit Analysis of categorized climbs at Danskebjerge dk All profiles are on Le Tour de France depuis 1947 in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hors categorie amp oldid 1142320485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
