Plateau de Beille Top 100: Pantani and the others

© Frank Fife/Reuters

 1.  1998: 43:20 Marco Pantani 21.88 km/h
 2.  2007: 44:08 Alberto Contador 21.62 km/h
 3.  2007: 44:08 Michael Rasmussen 21.62 km/h
 4.  1998: 44:26 Jan Ullrich 21.34 km/h
 5.  2007: 44:45 Mauricio Soler 21.32 km/h
 6.  2007: 44:48 Levi Leipheimer 21.29 km/h
 7.  1998: 44:53 Bobby Julich 21.12 km/h
 8.  1998: 44:53 Michael Boogerd 21.12 km/h
 9.  1998: 44:53 Leonardo Piepoli 21.12 km/h
 10. 1998: 44:53 Fernando Escartin 21.12 km/h
 11. 1998: 44:53 Christophe Rinero 21.12 km/h
 12. 2007: 45:01 Carlos Sastre 21.19 km/h
 13. 1998: 45:21 Kevin Livingston 20.90 km/h
 14. 1998: 45:23 Angel Casero 20.89 km/h
 15. 1998: 45:23 Laurent Jalabert 20.89 km/h
 16. 1998: 45:23 Manuel Beltran 20.89 km/h
 17. 2004: 45:31 Lance Armstrong 20.96 km/h
 18. 2004: 45:31 Ivan Basso 20.96 km/h
 19. 2002: 45:55 Lance Armstrong 20.78 km/h
 20. 2007: 46:00 Andreas Klöden 20.74 km/h
 21. 2007: 46:00 Cadel Evans 20.74 km/h
 22. 1998: 46:13 Dariusz Baranowski 20.51 km/h
 23. 1998: 46:13 Marcos Serrano 20.51 km/h
 24. 1998: 46:13 Luc Leblanc 20.51 km/h
 25. 1998: 46:18 Giuseppe Di Grande 20.48 km/h
 26. 1998: 46:18 Laurent Madouas 20.48 km/h
 27. 2011: 46:20 Jelle Vanendert 20.59 km/h
 28. 2007: 46:31 Andrey Kashechkin 20.51 km/h
 29. 1998: 46:36 Axel Merckx 20.34 km/h
 30. 2004: 46:36 Georg Totschnig 20.47 km/h
 31. 2011: 46:41 Samuel Sanchez 20.44 km/h
 32. 1998: 46:55 Santiago Blanco 20.21 km/h
 33. 2004: 46:58 Andreas Klöden 20.31 km/h
 34. 2004: 46:58 Francisco Mancebo 20.31 km/h
 35. 2002: 46:59 Roberto Heras 20.31 km/h
 36. 2002: 46:59 Joseba Beloki 20.31 km/h
 37. 2002: 47:06 Santiago Botero 20.25 km/h
 38. 2002: 47:06 Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano 20.25 km/h
 39. 2011: 47:06 Andy Schleck 20.25 km/h
 40. 2011: 47:08 Cadel Evans 20.24 km/h
 41. 2011: 47:08 Rigoberto Uran 20.24 km/h
 42. 2011: 47:08 Alberto Contador 20.24 km/h
 43. 2011: 47:08 Thomas Voeckler 20.24 km/h
 44. 2011: 47:08 Fränk Schleck 20.24 km/h
 45. 2011: 47:08 Jean-Christophe Peraud 20.24 km/h
 46. 2011: 47:08 Pierre Rolland 20.24 km/h
 47. 2011: 47:08 Ivan Basso 20.24 km/h
 48. 2007: 47:14 Yaroslav Popovych 20.20 km/h
 49. 2007: 47:14 Michael Boogerd 20.20 km/h
 50. 2007: 47:14 Mikel Astarloza 20.20 km/h

 51. 2002: 47:18 Raimondas Rumsas 20.17 km/h
 52. 1998: 47:27 Benoit Salmon 19.98 km/h
 53. 1998: 47:27 Bo Hamburger 19.98 km/h
 54. 1998: 47:27 Jean-Cyril Robin 19.98 km/h
 55. 2002: 47:28 Carlos Sastre 20.10 km/h
 56. 2002: 47:32 Marcos Serrano 20.07 km/h
 57. 1998: 47:37 Roland Meier 19.91 km/h
 58. 1998: 47:39 Francisco Benitez 19.90 km/h
 59. 2011: 47:47 Damiano Cunego 19.97 km/h
 60. 2007: 47:53 Oscar Pereiro Sio 19.92 km/h
 61. 2007: 47:53 Alejandro Valverde 19.92 km/h
 62. 2007: 47:53 Haimar Zubeldia 19.92 km/h
 63. 2007: 47:53 Bernhard Kohl 19.92 km/h
 64. 2007: 47:55 David Arroyo 19.91 km/h
 65. 2002: 48:02 Oscar Sevilla 19.86 km/h
 66. 1998: 48:09 Daniele Nardello 19.69 km/h
 67. 1998: 48:09 Bjarne Riis 19.69 km/h
 68. 1998: 48:09 Miguel Angel Pena 19.69 km/h
 69. 1998: 48:09 Alberto Elli 19.69 km/h
 70. 1998: 48:09 Kurt Van de Wouwer 19.69 km/h
 71. 1998: 48:09 Jorg Jaksche 19.69 km/h
 72. 2004: 48:13 Jan Ullrich 19.79 km/h
 73. 2011: 48:19 Thomas Danielson 19.74 km/h
 74. 2011: 48:19 Kevin De Weert 19.74 km/h
 75. 2004: 48:21 Jose Azevedo 19.73 km/h

 76. 1998: 48:22 Vicente Garcia-Acosta 19.60 km/h
 77. 2004: 48:22 Christophe Moreau 19.72 km/h
 78. 2004: 48:22 Pietro Caucchioli 19.72 km/h
 79. 2002: 48:34 Andrei Kivilev 19.64 km/h
 80. 2002: 48:42 Axel Merckx 19.59 km/h
 81. 2002: 48:42 David Moncoutié 19.59 km/h
 82. 2002: 48:42 Levi Leipheimer 19.59 km/h
 83. 2002: 48:42 Stephane Goubert 19.59 km/h
 84. 2011: 48:43 Rein Taaramae 19.58 km/h
 85. 2007: 48:56 John Gadret 19.50 km/h
 86. 2011: 48:58 Andrey Zeits 19.48 km/h
 87. 2011: 48:58 Rob Ruijgh 19.48 km/h
 88. 2007: 49:06 Antonio Colom 19.43 km/h
 89. 1998: 49:12 Cedric Vasseur 19.27 km/h
 90. 2002: 49:12 Francisco Mancebo 19.39 km/h
 91. 2002: 49:12 Christophe Moreau 19.39 km/h
 92. 2004: 49:14 Gilberto Simoni 19.38 km/h
 93. 1998: 49:16 Geert Verheyen 19.24 km/h
 94. 1998: 49:16 Evgeni Berzin 19.24 km/h
 95. 1998: 49:16 Rodolfo Massi 19.24 km/h
 96. 1998: 49:16 Patrick Jonker 19.24 km/h
 97. 1998: 49:16 Nicolas Jalabert 19.24 km/h
 98. 2011: 49:21 Haimar Zubeldia 19.33 km/h
 99. 2002: 49:27 Dario Frigo 19.29 km/h
100. 2002: 49:28 José Azevedo 19.29 km/h

Froome sets new speed record for Soudet-Pierre Saint Martin

Col du Soudet
2015:15,7 km@7,4%---41:40---average speed 22.61 km/h(Chris Froome) -finish at Arette-Pierre St Martin, 1610m
2003:14,5 km@7,5%---39:56---average speed 21.79 km/h(Tyler Hamilton)
                              ---42:16---average speed 20.58 km/h(David Millar)
                              ---42:28---average speed 20.49 km/h(Van De Wouwer-Casar-Miholjevic-Turpin-N.Sorensen-Wauters-Latasa)
                              ---43:29---average speed 20.01 km/h(Peloton led by Euskaltel)      
1996:14,5 km@7,5%---40:00---average speed 21.75 km/h(Virenque-Riis-Dufaux-Leblanc-Ullrich-Luttenberger-Escartin-Ugrumov)
                              ---41:52---average speed 20.78 km/h(Echave-Fernandez Gines-Rominger-Indurain-Olano-Hamburger-Cattai-Jonker-Piepoli-Savoldelli)
                              ---44:22---average speed 19.61 km/h(Chiappucci-Boogerd-Chepe Gonzalez group)
                              ---46:21---average speed 18.77 km/h(30 riders Berzin group)

July 13th, 2008: Cobra Riccò devours Col d'Aspin!

© CyclingNews/Bettini

         Arrived in Le Tour after being arguably the strongest climber of Giro d'Italia (where he finished second behind Contador), Riccardo Ricco didn't hold back when he announced his targets for La Grande Boucle: epic stage wins both in the Pyrenees and in the Alps.
        At the foot of the Pyrenees, the Cobra already had one stage win under his belt (the super uphill sprint at Super-Besse). But like the French saying "l'appétit vient en mangeant", Riccardo Ricco wanted more. The stage 9, 224 km in length and with the legendary cols, Peyresourde and Aspin on the route seemed very tempting for him. At the foot of the last one, the peloton was still around seventy riders strong, allowing Riccardo to save energy on the first easy part of the ascent.When they hit the first difficult section, him and his collegue, Leo Piepoli made a big selection, only a few being able to follow. Basically, a warning shot by Saunier Duval. The next few kilometers, the pace of the peloton slowed down, allowing riders like Sandy Casar, Vincenzo Nibali or a certain Kenyan, Christopher Froome to attack. All in vain. With less than 5 km to the top, Riccardo Ricco placed his ferocious, well-planned attack. His hands in the drops, the head always up, the Cobra flew through the escapees up the road. Nobody could follow the devastating attack. Exhibiting his beautiful climbing style, he slowly but surely opened a big gap on all of his rivals, enough to win the stage in the valley, in Biggore. At the top of Col d'Aspin, Ricco also set a new all-time record for the ascent. He was in the top of the world in those moments.
        While his frightening attack will always remain as proof of unbelievable climbing speed, the overall performance wasn't monstrous and that's why the record set by him on Col d'Aspin is far from being untouchable for the future.

2008:12 km@6,5%---29:18---average speed 24.57 km/h(Riccardo Ricco)-RECORD

Purito Rodriguez shines again on Huy!

Mur de Huy
2015:1 km@11,1%---2:49---average speed 21.30 km/h(Rodriguez-Froome)
2015:1 km@11,1%---2:53---average speed 20.81 km/h((Valverde-Alaphilippe-Albasini-Rodriguez-Moreno)
2014:1 km@11,1%---2:41---average speed 22.36 km/h(Alejandro Valverde)-RECORD
2013:1 km@11,1%---2:48---average speed 21.43 km/h(Daniel Moreno)
2012:1 km@11,1%---3:00---average speed 20.00 km/h(Joaquim Rodriguez)
2011:1 km@11,1%---2:44---average speed 21.95 km/h(Philippe Gilbert)
2010:1 km@11,1%---2:45---average speed 21.82 km/h(Evans-Rodriguez-Contador)
2009:1 km@11,1%---2:46---average speed 21.67 km/h(Davide Rebellin)
2008:1 km@11,1%---3:02---average speed 19.78 km/h(Kim Kirchen)
2007:1 km@11,1%---2:45---average speed 21.82 km/h(Davide Rebellin)
2006:1 km@11,1%---2:51---average speed 21.05 km/h(Valverde-S.Sanchez-Kroon-F.Schleck)
2005:1 km@11,1%---3:01---average speed 19.89 km/h(Di Luca-Kirchen-Rebellin)
2004:1 km@11,1%---2:46---average speed 21.67 km/h(Davide Rebellin)
2003:1 km@11,1%---3:20---average speed 18.00 km/h(Igor Astarloa)
2002:1 km@11,1%---2:59---average speed 20.11 km/h(Frigo-D.Etxebarria-Boogerd)
                           ---3:13---average speed 18.65 km/h(Mario Aerts)
 2001:1 km@11,1%---3:00---average speed 20.00 km/h(D.Etxebarria-Casagrande-Frigo-Rebellin-Boogerd-Luttenberger)
                           ---3:14---average speed 18.56 km/h(Rik Verbrugghe)              
1999:1 km@11,1%---3:36---average speed 16.66 km/h(Michele Bartoli)
1998:1 km@11,1%---3:11---average speed 18.85 km/h(Bo Hamburger)
1997:1 km@11,1%---3:10---average speed 18.95 km/h(Laurent Jalabert)
1996:1 km@11,1%---3:03---average speed 19.67 km/h(Lance Armstrong)
1994:1 km@11,1%---3:12---average speed 18.75 km/h(Argentin-Furlan)
1993:1 km@11,1%---3:39---average speed 16.44 km/h(Maurizio Fondriest)
1992:1 km@11,1%---3:15---average speed 18.46 km/h(Giorgio Furlan)
1991:1 km@11,1%---3:52---average speed 15.52 km/h(Moreno Argentin)
1989:1 km@11,1%---3:31---average speed 17.06 km/h(Claude Criquielion)
1988:1 km@11,1%---3:47---average speed 15.86 km/h(Rolf Golz)
1986:1 km@11,1%---3:42---average speed 16.22 km/h(Laurent Fignon)
1985:1 km@11,1%---3:31---average speed 17.06 km/h(Claude Criquielion)

Important mention: Since 2004, the peloton reached the base of Mur de Huy in compact formation.

Training ride for Alberto and Nairo on Bales

© La Route du Sud

Port de Bales
2015:11,7 km@7,9%---35:00---average speed 20.06 km/h(Contador-Quintana-Latour)
                                   ---35:20---average speed 19.87 km/h(Rossetto-Sepulveda)
2014:11,7 km@7,9%---32:52---average speed 21.36 km/h(Thibaut Pinot)-RECORD
                                   ---32:56---average speed 21.32 km/h(Vincenzo Nibali)
                                   ---33:06---average speed 21.21 km/h(Peraud-Gadret-Valverde)
                                   ---34:46---average speed 20.19 km/h(Romain Bardet)
2012:11,7 km@7,9%---36:04---average speed 19.46 km/h(Alejandro Valverde)
                                  ---36:18---average speed 19.34 km/h(Peloton)
2010:11,7 km@7,9%---34:17---average speed 20.48 km/h(Contador-Menchov-S.Sanchez)
                                  ---34:34---average speed 20.31 km/h(A.Schleck-Van Den Broeck-Vinokourov-Leipheimer-Gadret-Hesjedal)
2007:11,7 km@7,9%---34:48---average speed 20.17 km/h(Boogerd-Rasmussen-20 riders group)

Top 50 Rettenbachferner: The 2015 riders take it by storm!

© TeamSky.com

1.   2015: 44:32 Thibaut Pinot 15.63 km/h
2.   2015: 45:06 Domenico Pozzovivo 15.43 km/h
3.   2015: 45:09 Simon Spilak 15.42 km/h
4.   2015: 45:15 Miguel Angel Lopez 15.38 km/h
5.   2015: 45:15 Geraint Thomas 15.38 km/h
6.   2007: 45:47 David Lopez 15.20 km/h
7.   2015: 45:47 Jakob Fuglsang 15.20 km/h
8.   2015: 45:50 Jan Hirt 15.19 km/h
9.   2007: 45:59 Jens Voigt 15.14 km/h
10. 2015: 46:01 Sergio Luis Henao 15.12 km/h
11. 2007: 46:07 Robert Gesink 15.09 km/h
12. 2005: 46:09 Levi Leipheimer 15.08 km/h
13. 2015: 46:09 Tom Dumoulin 15.08 km/h
14. 2015: 46:12 Rafal Majka 15.06 km/h
15. 2007: 46:20 Damiano Cunego 15.02 km/h
16. 2005: 46:24 Georg Totschnig 15.00 km/h
17. 2007: 46:33 Laurens Ten Dam 14.95 km/h
18. 2015: 46:48 Sébastien Reichenbach 14.87 km/h
19. 2015: 46:48 Steve Morabito  14.87 km/h
20. 2015: 46:48 Laurens Ten Dam  14.87 km/h
21. 2015: 46:48 Warren Barguil  14.87 km/h
22. 2007: 46:51 Leonardo Bertagnolli 14.86 km/h
23. 2007: 46:57 Levi Leipheimer 14.82 km/h
24. 2007: 46:57 Christian Pfannberger 14.82 km/h
25. 2005: 46:59 Jan Ullrich 14.81 km/h
26. 2015: 46:59 Robert Gesink 14.81 km/h
27. 2015: 47:07 Esteban Chaves 14.77 km/h
28. 2007: 47:16 Chris Anker Sørensen 14.72 km/h
29. 2005: 47:21 Cadel Evans 14.70 km/h
30. 2007: 47:30 Josep Jufre 14.65 km/h
31. 2005: 47:33 Jörg Jaksche 14.64 km/h
32. 2015: 47:35 Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski 14.63 km/h
33. 2015: 47:37 Bob Jungels 14.62 km/h
34. 2015: 47:37 Kristijan Durasek 14.62 km/h
35. 2005: 47:50 Tadej Valjavec 14.55 km/h
36. 2007: 47:57 Marzio Bruseghin 14.52 km/h
37. 2007: 48:02 Wim Van Huffel 14.49 km/h
38. 2007: 48:14 Maxime Monfort 14.43 km/h
39. 2007: 48:20 Florian Stalder 14.40 km/h
40. 2015: 48:29 Ben Hermans 14.36 km/h
41. 2007: 48:35 Davide Rebellin 14.33 km/h
42. 2007: 48:35 Andrea Tonti 14.33 km/h
43. 2007: 48:51 Peter Velits 14.25 km/h
44. 2005: 48:55 Saul Raisin 14.23 km/h
45. 2007: 48:56 Martin Elmiger 14.22 km/h
46. 2005: 48:57 Marco Fertonani 14.22 km/h
47. 2015: 49:00 Kanstantsin Siutsou 14.20 km/h
48. 2015: 49:02 Daniel Moreno 14.19 km/h
49. 2007: 49:07 Amaël Moinard 14.17 km/h
50. 2007: 49:14 Koos Moerenhout 14.14 km/h

Pinot pulverizes the Rettenbachferner record!

© www.radsport.ch

Rettenbachferner
2015:11,6 km@10,6%---44:32---average speed 15.63 km/h(Thibaut Pinot)-RECORD
2007:11,6 km@10,6%---45:47---average speed 15.20 km/h(David Lopez)
2005:11,6 km@10,6%---46:09---average speed 15.08 km/h(Levi Leipheimer)

Froome wins the Dauphine on Valfrejus

Valfrejus
2015:5,4 km@7,0%---13:25---average speed 24.15 km/h(Christopher Froome)
                            ---13:45---average speed 23.56 km/h(Van Garderen-S.Yates-Rui Costa)

The Bettex under Froome siege!

Le Bettex
2015:7,3 km@7,6%---19:09---average speed 22.87 km/h(Christopher Froome)

Mighty fast ascents on Allos & Pra Loup

Col d'Allos 

2015:6,6 km@7,0%---17:13---average speed 23.00 km/h(Romain Bardet)

                            ---17:21---average speed 22.82 km/h(25 riders peloton)

Pra Loup
2015:6,3 km@6,4%---13:53---average speed 27.23 km/h(Tejay Van Garderen)
                             ---14:43---average speed 25.69 km/h(Romain Bardet)