About the Col de Tourmalet

[Zen]

An interesting tidbit and a very amusing story from Wikipedia.
Now I know what HC stands for. I've been interpreting it as Hard Climb


The Col du Tourmalet is one of the most famous climbs on the Tour de France. It has been included more than any other pass, starting in 1910, when the Pyrenees were introduced. The first rider over was Octave Lapize, who went on to claim the yellow jersey in Paris. In 1913, Eugène Christophe broke his fork on the Tourmalet and repaired it himself at a forge in Sainte-Marie-de-Campan.

Since 1947, the Tour has crossed the summit 47 times, plus a stage finish at the summit in 1974. There have also been three finishes at La Mongie. Since 1980 it has been ranked hors catégorie, or exceptional. The Vuelta a España has also crossed the pass several times.

The 2010 edition of the tour will feature riders crossing the summit of the Col du Tourmalet not once but twice. For the second time Tourmalet features stage finish on the latter visit.

At the col is a memorial to Jacques Goddet, director of the Tour de France from 1936 to 1987, and a large statue of Octave Lapize gasping for air as he struggles to make the climb.
Octave Lapize memorial at the top of the Tourmalet
[edit] Origins in the Tour

The Pyrenees were included in the Tour de France at the insistence of Alphonse Steinès, a colleague of the organiser, Henri Desgrange. He told the story in a book published soon after the event.[1]

Steinès first agreed that the Tour would pay 2,000 francs to clear the col d'Aubisque, then came back to investigate the Tourmalet. He started at Sainte-Marie-de-Campan with sausage, ham and cheese at the inn opposite the church and arranged to hire a driver called Dupont from Bagnères-de-Bigorre. Dupont and Steinès made it the first 16 km, after which their car came to a stop. Dupont and Steinès started to walk but Dupont turned back after 600m, shouting: "The bears come over from Spain when it snows." Steinès set off. He mistook voices in the darkness for thieves. They were youngsters guarding sheep with their dog. Steinès called to one.

"Son, do you know the Tourmalet well? Could you guide me? I'll give you a gold coin. When we get to the other top, I'll give you another one."

The boy joined him but then turned back.

Steinès rested on a rock. He considered sitting it out until dawn, then realised he'd freeze. He slipped on the icy road, then fell into a stream. He climbed back to the road and again fell in the snow. Exhausted and stumbling, he heard another voice.

"Tell me who goes there or I'll shoot."

"I'm a lost traveller. I've just come across the Tourmalet."

"Oh, it's you, Monsieur Steinès! We were expecting you! We got a phone call at Ste-Marie-de-Campan. Everybody's at Barèges. It's coming on for three o'clock. There are search teams of guides out looking for you."

The organising newspaper, L'Auto, had a correspondent at Barèges, a man called Lanne-Camy. He took him for a bath and provided new clothes.

Steines sent a telegram to Desgrange: "Crossed Tourmalet stop. Very good road stop. Perfectly feasible."

[Eden]

That's hillarious... those early days were something. The roads in the mountains were all dirt back then. Riders used to go on strike and call the organizers "murderers".

Hors Category literally translates to "beyond category" - and the way they categorized climbs (at least the urban legend) is pretty funny too.... Supposedly it was the lowest gear needed for the car to climb it - HC's apparently the car couldn't even get to the top....

[PscyclePath]

What they failed to mention was that Monsieur Lapize called all the race officials "Assassins!!" when he got to the top ;-)

[lizbinsocali]

Thanks for posting this. I am having TDF withdrawals!! lol!!

[ny biker]

An interesting tidbit and a very amusing story from Wikipedia.
Now I know what HC stands for. I've been interpreting it as Hard Climb

It may not be the true translation, but "Hard Climb" certainly is accurate.

[TrekTheKaty]

Awesome. Anybody recommend a book about the history of bicycle racing? I'd like to read more of that.

[cindywon]

I just read both The Story of the Tour De France and The Story of the Tour de France Volume 2: 1965-2007 and honestly both were phenomenal. The author did a great job on both volumes. Highly recommended!

[OakLeaf]

That's a great story.

[tctrek]

Good stuff that I had not heard before. Thanks for sharing!

[Bike Chick]

Thanks, Zen! Very interesting reading. I enjoyed it.

[TrekTheKaty]

I just read both The Story of the Tour De France and The Story of the Tour de France Volume 2: 1965-2007 and honestly both were phenomenal. The author did a great job on both volumes. Highly recommended!

Got Vol 1 for my kindle--$2.99!

[redrhodie]

My BF calls the Tourmalet the "Mel Torme' ". It is foggy up there.

[Zen]

Oh dear.
You know what you've done to me now, don't you?

[Possegal]

My BF calls the Tourmalet the "Mel Torme' ".

Oh I think I'm going to have to borrow that. That's too funny!