March 23th, 1996: Colombo & Gontchenkov sprint to Cipressa record!

         The honour of getting first on the famous right corner, the start of la Cipressa, belonged to the
Roslotto team. But after only some meters in, Frattini and Berzin started to make the race for Gewiss. And they didn't mess around, putting the whole peloton in one big line and in a hell of pain. MG's Jaermann paced it even faster, everyone having to break hard in the corners at this point.
Surely, the pace was too high for an attack, wasn't it? Apparently no because Gabriele Colombo(Gewiss), riding an insane gear,blasted through the motorbikes and immediately put a good gap on the peloton. Only Alexander Gontchenkov(Roslotto) managed somehow to catch him. Claudio Di Benedetto, reporting live from a TV motorbike is almost shocked by the surreal speed: " The speed is impressive...On the first ramps, they did 40 km/h. Now with the attack, they reached 50 km/h..."
        Colombo didn't even ask any help from Gontchenkov to the top, where they had under 10 seconds on a 20 riders group. But with their brave, monstrous long range attack they definitely achieved to tire out the peloton. So besides setting the record speed on Cipressa, they also managed to finish on Via Roma... first and second!

1996:5,7 km@4,1%---9:19---average speed 36.71 km/h(Colombo-Gontchenkov)-RECORD

Terminillo: Quintana solo in the snow!

Monte Terminillo
2015:15,1 km@7,5%---41:23---average speed 21.89 km/h(Nairo Quintana)
2010:15,1 km@7,5%---42:38---average speed 21.25 km/h(Xavier Tondo)
                              ---43:57---average speed 20.61 km/h(Chris Anker Sorensen)                      
2003:15,1 km@7,5%---40:27---average speed 22.40 km/h(Garzelli-Simoni)

Porte, the master of the super windy Col d'Eze

Col d'Eze
2015:9,6 km@4,7%---20:18---average speed 28.37 km/h(Richie Porte)
2013:9,6 km@4,7%---19:16---average speed 29.90 km/h(Richie Porte)
2012:9,6 km@4,7%---19:12---average speed 30.00 km/h(Bradley Wiggins)
2001:9,6 km@4,7%---19:15---average speed 29.92 km/h(Dario Frigo)
2000:9,6 km@4,7%---19:28---average speed 29.59 km/h(Andreas Kloden)
1989:9,6 km@4,7%---19:47---average speed 29.12 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1988:9,6 km@4,7%---20:06---average speed 28.66 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1987:9,6 km@4,7%---19:42---average speed 29.24 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1986:9,6 km@4,7%---19:40---average speed 29.29 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1985:9,6 km@4,7%---20:47---average speed 27.71 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1984:9,6 km@4,7%---20:36---average speed 27.96 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1983:9,6 km@4,7%---20:15---average speed 28.44 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1982:9,6 km@4,7%---20:45---average speed 27.76 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1981:9,6 km@4,7%---21:04---average speed 27.34 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1980:9,6 km@4,7%---20:23---average speed 28.26 km/h(Gerrie Knetemann)
1979:9,6 km@4,7%---21:17---average speed 27.06 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1978:9,6 km@4,7%---20:09---average speed 28.59 km/h(Gerrie Knetemann)
1976:9,6 km@4,7%---20:46---average speed 27.74 km/h(Michel Laurent)
1975:9,6 km@4,7%---20:54---average speed 27.56 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1974:9,6 km@4,7%---20:34---average speed 28.01 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1973:9,6 km@4,7%---20:41---average speed 27.85 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1972:9,6 km@4,7%---19:59---average speed 28.82 km/h(Raymond Poulidor)
1971:9,6 km@4,7%---20:39---average speed 27.89 km/h(Eddy Merckx)
1970:9,6 km@4,7%---20:09---average speed 28.59 km/h(Eddy Merckx)
1969:9,6 km@4,7%---20:35---average speed 27.98 km/h(Eddy Merckx)


          Important mention:

Since 1990 to 1995, the Col d'Eze time trial's distance was changed, additional flat kilometers before the final ascent being added. Because of this and lack of information, the time ascents from that period can only be approximated. The all-time record though should belong to the Swiss Tony Rominger with a time around 18:30-18:40 for the 9,6 kms of ascent in 1994.

Missiles over Col d'Eze!

© Cycling Weekly

1.  2012: 19:12 Bradley Wiggins
2.  2012: 19:14 Lieuwe Westra
3.  2001: 19:15 Dario Frigo
4.  2007: 19:15 Alberto Contador
5.  2013: 19:16 Richie Porte
6.  2000: 19:28 Andreas Kloden
7.  2013: 19:39 Andrew Talansky
8.  1986: 19:40 Sean Kelly
9.  1987: 19:42 Stephen Roche
10.  2001: 19:42 Raimondas Rumsas

11. 2013: 19:43 Nairo Quintana
12. 2000: 19:45 Laurent Brochard
13. 2012: 19:45 Jean-Christophe Peraud
14. 1989: 19:47 Stephen Roche
15. 2013: 19:48 Jean-Christophe Peraud
16. 2000: 19:51 Jonathan Vaughters
17. 1987: 19:52 Sean Kelly
18. 2000: 19:53 Dario Frigo
19. 1986: 19:54 Jean-Francois Bernard
20. 2000: 19:55 Wladimir Belli
21. 2001: 19:56 Jose Azevedo
22. 2000: 19:57 Alexandre Vinokourov
23. 2001: 19:58 David Moncoutie
24. 1972: 19:59 Raymond Poulidor
25. 2001: 19:59 Marcellino Garcia

Important mentions:
       This is not an all-time top, the time ascents of the 90's not being included.

Since 1990 to 1995, the Col d'Eze time trial's distance was changed, additional flat kilometers before the final ascent being added. Because of this and lack of information, the time ascents from that period can only be approximated. The all-time record though should belong to the Swiss, Tony Rominger with a time around 18:30-18:40 for the 9,6 kms of ascent in 1994.
       The 2007 ascent took place in a road stage and not during an individual time trial.

Col d'Eze: Time-trialing through history

© James Startt

Col d'Eze
2013:9,6 km@4,7%---19:16---average speed 29.90 km/h(Richie Porte)
2012:9,6 km@4,7%---19:12---average speed 30.00 km/h(Bradley Wiggins)
2001:9,6 km@4,7%---19:15---average speed 29.92 km/h(Dario Frigo)
2000:9,6 km@4,7%---19:28---average speed 29.59 km/h(Andreas Kloden)
1989:9,6 km@4,7%---19:47---average speed 29.12 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1988:9,6 km@4,7%---20:06---average speed 28.66 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1987:9,6 km@4,7%---19:42---average speed 29.24 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1986:9,6 km@4,7%---19:40---average speed 29.29 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1985:9,6 km@4,7%---20:47---average speed 27.71 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1984:9,6 km@4,7%---20:36---average speed 27.96 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1983:9,6 km@4,7%---20:15---average speed 28.44 km/h(Sean Kelly)
1982:9,6 km@4,7%---20:45---average speed 27.76 km/h(Sean Kelly)

1981:9,6 km@4,7%---21:04---average speed 27.34 km/h(Stephen Roche)
1980:9,6 km@4,7%---20:23---average speed 28.26 km/h(Gerrie Knetemann)
1979:9,6 km@4,7%---21:17---average speed 27.06 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1978:9,6 km@4,7%---20:09---average speed 28.59 km/h(Gerrie Knetemann)
1976:9,6 km@4,7%---20:46---average speed 27.74 km/h(Michel Laurent)
1975:9,6 km@4,7%---20:54---average speed 27.56 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1974:9,6 km@4,7%---20:34---average speed 28.01 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1973:9,6 km@4,7%---20:41---average speed 27.85 km/h(Joop Zoetemelk)
1972:9,6 km@4,7%---19:59---average speed 28.82 km/h(Raymond Poulidor)
1971:9,6 km@4,7%---20:39---average speed 27.89 km/h(Eddy Merckx)
1970:9,6 km@4,7%---20:09---average speed 28.59 km/h(Eddy Merckx)
1969:9,6 km@4,7%---20:35---average speed 27.98 km/h(Eddy Merckx)

          Important mention:

Since 1990 to 1995, the Col d'Eze time trial's distance was changed, additional flat kilometers before the final ascent being added. Because of this and lack of information, the time ascents from that period can only be approximated. The all-time record though should belong to the Swiss Tony Rominger with a time around 18:30-18:40 for the 9,6 kms of ascent in 1994.

Team Sky 1-2, bloody fast on Croix de Chaubouret!

Col de la Croix de Chaubouret
2015:10,1 km@6,7%---24:13---average speed 25.02 km/h(Porte-Thomas)
2006:10,1 km@6,7%---26:35---average speed 22.80 km/h(Landis-Vila) (source: http://www.cyclismag.com/article.php?sid=2016)
1997:10,1 km@6,7%---23:18---average speed 26.01 km/h(Jan Ullrich)-RECORD
                       

Christopher Froome gets revenge up Allanadas!

Allanada del Santo
2015:3,0 km@12,7%---11:41---average speed 15.41 km/h(Chris Froome)

Brutal Contador exhibition on Hazallanas!

Alto de Hazallanas
2015:7,3 km@9,6%---23:39---average speed 18.52 km/h(Alberto Contador)
                            ---23:58---average speed 18.28 km/h(Chris Froome)
2013:7,3 km@9,6%---23:22---average speed 18.74 km/h(Chris Horner)
                             ---24:10---average speed 18.12 km/h(Vincenzo Nibali)
                             ---24:24---average speed 17.95 km/h(Valverde-Basso-Rodriguez-Pinot)

Richie Porte flattens out the Willunga Hill!

Old Willunga Hill
2015:3,6 km@7,1%---7:48---average speed 27.69 km/h(Richie Porte)
2014:3,6 km@7,1%---8:18---average speed 26.02 km/h(Richie Porte)
2013:3,6 km@7,1%---8:01---average speed 26.94 km/h(Gerrans-Slagter)
2012:3,6 km@7,1%---8:47---average speed 24.59 km/h(Valverde-Gerrans)
2011:3,6 km@7,1%---8:44---average speed 24.73 km/h(Ben Hermans)
2010:3,6 km@7,1%---8:25---average speed 25.66 km/h(Valverde-L.L.Sanchez-Evans-Sagan)

The 2014 'Subiendo como una moto' awards

     

© BBC

       At the end of the year, I thought that it would be interesting to do a nice "Top 10" of what I consider to be the most brutal climbing performances of the season. So here they are:

10. Tom Danielson up the Powder Mountain, during the Tour of Utah.
9. Vincenzo Nibali's ascent on Planche des Belles Filles
8. Valverde's record time on Mur de Huy
7. Rafal Majka on Risoul, from the breakaway
6. The Froome-Contador clash on Col du Beal
5. Philippe Gilbert's new record up the Cauberg
4. Quintana and Aru on the Monte Grappa mountain time trial
3. Vincenzo Nibali's ride on Hautacam
2. Alberto Contador's ascent on Puerto de Ancares
1. Alberto Contador's ascent to La Farrapona

       During the season, four new record ascents were set by the riders on the following climbs: Ca uberg, Mur de Huy, Risoul and Port de Bales.
      After being hold by another rider for a period of two years, the title of the best climber in the world comes back on the shoulders of the Spanish champion, Alberto Contador. Even if he crashed out of the Tour de France while supposedly, being in his best form ever, he still managed to return and reach at the end of the second week of La Vuelta a Espana, the same climbing level as in his dominating years.
     The Tour de France winner, Vincenzo Nibali showed during the July race, his best ever climbing peformances, confirming the upgrade made in the Astana colours. It remains to be seen if he has any room of improvement left in the climbing department for 2015...
     While Nairo Quintana, Chris Froome and the eternal Alejandro Valverde didn't manage for different reasons, to surpass their best versions in the 2014 season , there were two young champions who made it on the scene of the best climbers in the world. The first, Fabio Aru proved that he has the endurance needed to win the biggest races in the world, unleashing a tremendous number of watts on the climbs of the third week both in Il Giro (Monte Grappa) and La Vuelta (Monte Castrove). The second, Rafal Majka, constant but not brilliant during the Giro d'Italia, managed to conquer in big style both the Alps and the Pyrenees during Le Tour. His breakaway triumphs could be placed in the same category along with the superb mountain raids of Richard Virenque, Michael Rasmussen or Emanuele Sella.
      The climbing level of the whole season can be considered superior to the level of the last two or three years. Overall, the performances seen before the 2007 season were not reached during 2014 though.