The Tour de France History of Col du Tourmalet

No climb has featured in the Tour de France more than the Col du Tourmalet. Since its first appearance in 1910, it has been the scene of triumph, heartbreak, and legend. This is the story of cycling's most iconic mountain.

The First Crossing: 1910

The Tourmalet made its Tour de France debut in 1910, when Octave Lapize became the first rider to cross the summit. Legend has it that Lapize shouted 'You are assassins, yes, assassins!' at the race organisers as he climbed the brutal dirt road. He went on to win the stage and, eventually, the Tour.

A Century of Legends

Since then, the Tourmalet has crowned some of the greatest names in cycling: Lucien Petit-Breton, Gino Bartali, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, and most recently, Tadej Pogacar. Each year the Tour returns, the climb writes a new chapter in cycling history.

The Geant du Tourmalet

At the summit stands the Geant du Tourmalet, a large statue of a cyclist that has become a symbol of the climb. Installed in 1999, it commemorates the centenary of the Tourmalet's inclusion in the race. Every cyclist who reaches the summit takes a photo with the Giant — it's a rite of passage.