STAGE DETAIL: 15.5 km (time trial)

KM CLIMBING: 13.8 (average grade: 7.9 %)

COURSE: Despite the ballyhoo this stage has created, it’s notthe toughest uphill time trial in Tour history.

That honor goes to Mont Ventoux (used in 1958 and 1987), which is 7km longer than the 13.8km of the Alpe d’Huez climb with the same average grade of 7.8 percent.

After a flat 1.7km start the Alpe d’Huez climb opens with its steepest pitches.

STAGE 16 July 21 Bourg d'Oisans - L'Alpe d'Huez (TT) (9.321mi/15km)

FAVORITES: Armstrong may still be the favorite, but his strongest challenger on the stage may be Iban Mayo, who won the stage to L’Alpe d’Huez last year and recently established a new individual time trial record up Mt. Ventoux.

HISTORY: When Fausto Coppi won the first stage to the Alpe in1952, at the end of a 266km stage, he averaged 18.654 kph for the finishingclimb, which was still unpaved. This year’s winner will probably averageabout 23.5 kph.

BOURG D’OISANS:
Starts: 15 (1952-76-79-81-83-84-87-89-91-92-94-95-97-99-2003)
Finishes: 1 (1966)

Friday, July 4, 1952, 10th stage, Lausanne to l’Alpe d’Huez (266 km). The Alpe welcomes its first Tour, and a

L’ALPE D’HUEZ:
Starts: 0
Finishes: 23 (1952-76-77-78-79-79-81-82-83-84-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-94-95-97-99-01-03)