Famous Strava Climbs Every Cyclist Should Ride
Nine famous climbs and Strava segments, from Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux to Old La Honda and Box Hill, with length, gradient and tips.
In this post
Some climbs are famous because the Tour de France made them famous. Others are famous because local riders time themselves on them week after week. These nine are both kinds, and every one has a Strava segment worth chasing.
Strava is a trademark of Strava, Inc. Corbah isn’t connected to Strava; this is our own guide.
The big European climbs
- Alpe d’Huez: 13.8 km and 21 numbered hairpins from Bourg d’Oisans.
- Mont Ventoux from Bédoin: about 21 km, much of it steep forest, to a summit at 1,910 m.
- Stelvio from Prato: about 25 km and 48 numbered hairpins up to 2,758 m.
- Col du Tourmalet: two sides of about 17 to 19 km to 2,115 m in the Pyrenees.
The local legends
- Mount Lemmon: about 30 miles and 7,000 feet of climbing out of Tucson, Arizona.
- Old La Honda: the Bay Area’s benchmark, 3.4 miles at about 7% under the redwoods.
- Hawk Hill: 1.8 miles above the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Box Hill: the Zig Zag Road in Surrey, used nine times by the men’s 2012 Olympic road race.
- Doi Inthanon: about 39 km to near the top of Thailand, steepest at the very end.
What KOM and QOM mean
On Strava, the fastest rider on a segment holds the KOM (King of the Mountain) or QOM (Queen of the Mountain). On the famous climbs those crowns belong to very strong riders, so treat them as a curiosity. Your own best time, and your time against friends, is the race that matters.
How to ride any of them
- Pace the start: go easier than feels right for the first ten minutes. Read how to pace a long climb.
- Check your gears: see what gearing you need for hills.
- Live somewhere flat? Try training for climbs without hills.
- Bring a layer: the top of a big climb can be much colder than the bottom.
Want more? See the most legendary climbs in Europe and the best cycling roads in the USA. And for the races that made these mountains famous, read cycling’s greatest rivalries.
What to wear up it
Climbing is slow, so people see your jersey for a long time. Our Climbs jerseys are drawn from the mountains: the Mont Ventoux Mistral, Contour and TOUGH After the Climb. Each is made to order, with free personalization.
