Is The Tour De France really the hardest race in the world? Or could our very own Hank make the time cut? In today’s video, we’ve come to Alpe d’Huez to attempt one of the most infamous climbs in Tour de France history!

0:00 – Intro
2:55 – Hanks attempt
11:43 – The finish line

Useful Links:
GCN+ | Every. Unmissable. Moment. 👉 https://gcn.eu/9jI
Ride with us at the Global Bike Festival 👉 https://gcn.eu/GBF2023
Download the GCN App for free 👉 https://gcn.eu/app
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/french-casuals
Join the GCN Club 👉 https://gcnclub.com
GCN Training Plans 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcntp

How fast do you think you could get up Alpe d’Huez? 🤔 Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Watch more on GCN…
📹 The Tour De France: 8 Unwritten Rules, Obscure Regulations & Weird Facts! 👉 https://youtu.be/mmolbXe4WV0
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 ​​https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures

🎵 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Why Oh Why – Lofive
Resurgance – Deskant
San Pedro – Sugoi
Ocean Way – SOOP
Nanda Devi – Ooyy
In It (Instrumental Version) – Kadant

#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #tourdefrance #timecut #challenge

📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.

Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.

Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.

Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling

Thanks to our sponsors:
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Zipp Wheels: https://gcn.eu/Zipp
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Elite Bottles: https://gcn.eu/EliteBottles
Whoop Fitness: https://gcn.eu/Whoop
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
SiS: https://gcn.eu/ScienceInSport
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
Shimano Wheels: https://gcn.eu/Shimano
Shadow Stand: https://gcn.eu/ShadowStand
DMT Shoes: https://gcn.eu/DMT
Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets
Strava: https://gcn.eu/strava

Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Español – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnjapan
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Racing – https://youtube.com/@gmbnracing
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn

47 Comments

  1. How fast do you think you could get up Alpe d’Huez? 🤔 Share your thoughts in the comment section below! 👇

  2. I did it a few years back, but the route planner cocked up and my Garmin route didn't follow the classic route, had me turning right with 3 hairpins to go. Got to the hotel 1st, but have never lived it down! Took lots of photos !

  3. Hank Great insight into the TDF and Alpe d'Huez. You put up a great effort and solid time. The climb up up Alpe d'Huez would be a Bucket List accomplishment for me and I hope to complete it someday.

  4. I am starting to realize how brutal Jonas Vingegaard is😱😱😱. Ge is from freaking Thy!!!!
    THY.! Litterally a place as flat as pancake in Denmark.🤣
    Jonas is something else😵‍💫🥴😶‍🌫️

  5. I was out of breath just watching you climb. Well done! Professional cycling is probably the most challenging sport on the planet. And the Tour de France is just the most brutal scenario for competition. Heat, distance, and the mammoth climbs. It's what makes cycling so appealing to many, including myself. Thanks for a very impressive video. All the best.

  6. Female rider at 6:14 your saddle is a good inch too high, there should be a pronounced bend at your knee at full extension. When unclipped your heel should be able to rest flat on the pedal at it's lowest point.

  7. The riders are still in a group for a lot of the climb and still get aero benefits by rotating round at the front, a solo rider is going to be slower, so Hank may well have hung in the group.

  8. I think even Cavendish a relatively light sprinter had an FTP of 325-350 watts at 154 lbs… Fabio weighs 172 but that pace is still probably a moderate tempo for him

  9. I for sure would make it. But not in just over an hour, not even on my best day. I have no clue how long it would take me obviously. Just getting to the top would be epic. This demo just shows the level those riders are on. Just insane.

  10. I'd consider it an honor to be passed by Hank narrating his journey up Alpe d'Huez, or like that guy at 8:18 wondering, "Is that Hank from GCN?!?" as I descended at about the same speed.

    A couple of questions: wouldn't it have been better to go with lighter, shallow section wheels for climbing? And what Di2 mode does Hank – and other GCN riders – use? Syncro/semi-syncro/full manual?

  11. I have managed to conquer Alpe d'Huez in 2022. I am one of the lucky cycling enthusiasts who managed to finish L'Etape du tour de France in 2022. I was smashed at the top and cried like a baby. I was so happy on that day. Thanks for remembering me about the feelings I have lived back then.

  12. Just goes to show how fit these TDF cyclists are. Many of them domestiques who barely get a mention during the event but without them many of our "heroes" wouldn't be where they are or where during their heyday.

  13. Thanks for posting this – it should let the average cyclist know they can't climb faster than TdF sprinters. There seems to be this belief that when commentators say "he's not a climber" that they mean he's slow, when it really just means he's fast but not as fast a true specialist climber

  14. Great ride anyway. This was on my bucket list when we lived in Germany for 6 years. 3 of those years were lost due to COVID. We are back in the US now, but we still have our house in Spain. It's still on my bucket list.

  15. Hank, don’t be to hard on yourself. One factor you did not consider and that is you adhered to the traffic conditions, while tour riders could cut and shorten as many corners as possible. How many meters does think that would encompass?🤔
    Well done! 👍

Leave A Reply