Hautacam
Cyclist Middle East|June 2017

As a climb to a ski resort, Hautacam is always a summit finish at the Tour, and it has been the scene of several race-winning moves – some cleaner than others.

Ellis Bacon
Hautacam

Fans of 1990s pro bike racing will remember Hautacam as the Pyrenean climb on which Bjarne Riis sealed his domination of the 1996 Tour de France – a day when the Dane theatrically dropped back alongside each of his rivals to assess how they were feeling before accelerating past them all and disappearing into the distance, as though he had a motor hidden in his bike.

Of course, we know now that the stage was indeed fraudulently won, but not through so called mechanical doping: Riis admitted in 2007 that he’d taken performance-enhancing drugs for much of his pro career.

But let’s blame the rider, not the mountain. Climbs like Hautacam – innocent, unmoving, stoic, beautiful – provide only the canvas. They are not the artist, flawed or otherwise.

In the yellow leader’s jersey since Stage 9, Riis sought the advice of his former teammate and two-time Tour winner Laurent Fignon as to how he should defend his race lead on the road to Hautacam on Stage 16. ‘Attack!’ the Frenchman told him in no uncertain terms. ‘The yellow jersey should be laying it all on the line in the mountains.’

All the main contenders were there, halfway up the 16.3km long climb: defending champion Miguel Indurain, Tony Rominger, Richard Virenque and Festina teammate Laurent Dufaux, Luc Leblanc, Evgeni Berzin, World Champion Abraham Olano… and they were being led by Riis’s 22-year-old Telekom teammate Jan Ullrich, who had been tasked with setting the pace on the climb.

‘Just go as fast as you can for as long as you can,’ Riis told the young German, according to his autobiography, Riis: Stages Of Light And Dark.

Then it was time for Riis to put the next phase of his plan into action: wait for his rivals to begin suffering behind Ullrich, assess them for signs of weakness, and then deal the knock-out blow.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2017-Ausgabe von Cyclist Middle East.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2017-Ausgabe von Cyclist Middle East.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS CYCLIST MIDDLE EASTAlle anzeigen
Dear UCI
Cyclist Middle East

Dear UCI

With Brian Cookson out and David Lappartient in, Felix Lowe writes an open letter to the new president of the UCI

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 2017
Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX
Cyclist Middle East

Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX

Canyon has finally decided that, yes, women do need their own race bike

time-read
5 Minuten  |
December 2017
Craig Calfee
Cyclist Middle East

Craig Calfee

From bamboo e-bikes to full suspension racers, frame building pioneer Craig Calfee talks carbon fibre, Greg LeMond and the future of bikes as we know it

time-read
5 Minuten  |
December 2017
Track In The USSR
Cyclist Middle East

Track In The USSR

Not only did Don Walker found the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, he also shows some pretty mean bicycles himself

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 2017
Rotor Uno Hydraulic Road Groupset
Cyclist Middle East

Rotor Uno Hydraulic Road Groupset

£2,400, saddleback.co.uk

time-read
1 min  |
December 2017
Frank Schleck
Cyclist Middle East

Frank Schleck

The ex-pro and former yellow jersey wearer tells Cyclist about the unique pleasures and pains of riding at the Tour de France 

time-read
5 Minuten  |
October 2017
The Worlds Are Your Oyster
Cyclist Middle East

The Worlds Are Your Oyster

Designing a course so a local rider wins the rainbow jersey? Felix Lowe asks just what are the Worlds coming to…

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October 2017
Pick 'N' Mix
Cyclist Middle East

Pick 'N' Mix

If we had to pick five…

time-read
2 Minuten  |
October 2017
Q&A : Thomas Voeckler
Cyclist Middle East

Q&A : Thomas Voeckler

The French fans’ favourite on his last ever appearance in the Tour de France, his old Miguel Indurain poster and the glorious art of the attack.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
June 2017
In Praise Of... Memorials
Cyclist Middle East

In Praise Of... Memorials

Plaques, statues and shrines to cycling’s fallen heroes are scattered all over the mountain roads of Europe, turning any ride into a pilgrimage.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
June 2017