Hors catégorie

Hors catégorie is a French term used in cycle races (most notably, the Tour de France) to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs in cycling are designated from Category 1 (hardest) to Category 4 (easiest), based on both steepness and length. A climb that is harder than Category 1 is designated as hors catégorie. The term was originally used for those mountain roads where cars were not expected to be able to pass.

History

When the mountains classification in the Tour de France originated in the 1933 Tour de France, there was only one type of mountain. Points were given to the first cyclists to cross the mountains, starting with 10 points for the first cyclist, going down to 1 point for the tenth cyclist. After the second world war, in the 1947 Tour de France, the mountains were divided into two categories, the first and the second category. The first category mountains gave 10 points to the first cyclist, similar to before 1939, and the second category mountains gave only 5 points to the first cyclist.

The division in categories was successful, and already two years later, in 1949, the third category was added. These were even smaller mountains, which gave 3 points to the cyclist reaching the peak first.

In 1962, the fourth category was added. The points system was also revised: the first category now gave 15 points for the first cyclist, the second category 10 points, the third category 5 points and the fourth category 3 points. Although the fourth category disappeared in 1963, it came back again in 1964. The system with four categories kept in place until 1978, although the points distribution changed over the years.

In 1979, four categories was considered not enough, and another category was added. Instead of adding a fifth category, the Tour organisation decided to add a hors catégorie.

Tour de France

The following climbs, used in the Tour de France have been ranked "Hors catégorie" at least once.

Col	Height (m.)	No. of times visited	No. of HC climbs	First time as HC climb	Most recent	Profile	Notes
Agnel, ColCol Agnel	2744	2	2	2008	2011	[1]
Alpe d'Huez, Alpe d'Huez	1860	27	23	1979	2011	[2]
Andorra Arcalis, Andorra Arcalis	2240	2	2	1997	2009	[3]
Aubisque !Col d'Aubisque	1709	47	12	1980	2012	[4]	No. of times visited includes stage finishes at Gourette
Balès, Port dePort de Balès	1755	3	3	2007	2012	[5]
Beille, Plateau dePlateau de Beille	1780	5	5	1998	2011	[6]
Bonette, Col de laCol de la Bonette	2715	4	2	1993	2008	[7]
Chamrousse, Chamrousse	1730	1	1	2001	2001	[8]
Croix-de-Fer, Col de laCol de la Croix-de-Fer	2067	16	8	1989	2012	[9]
Galibier, Col duCol du Galibier	2645	33	19	1979	2011	[10]
Glandon, Col duCol du Glandon	1924	12	3	1981	2001	[11]
Grand Colombier, Col duCol du Grand Colombier	1501	1	1	2012	2012	[12]
Grand Saint-Bernard, Col duCol du Grand Saint-Bernard	2465	5	1	2009	2009	[13]
Granon, Col duCol du Granon	2413	1	1	1986	1986	[14]
Hautacam, Hautacam	1560	4	4	1994	2008	[15]
Iseran !Col de l'Iseran	2770	5	2	1992	2007	[16]
Isola 2000, Isola 2000	1900	1	1	1993	1993	[17]
Izoard !Col d'Izoard	2360	23	6	1986	2011	[18]
Joux-Plane, Col deCol de Joux-Plane	1691	11	6	1981	2006	[19]
La Plagne, La Plagne	1980	4	4	1984	2002	[20]
Larrau, Port dePort de Larrau	1573	2	2	1996	2007	[21]
La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse, La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse	1160	1	1	1984	1984	[22]
Lombarde, Col de laCol de la Lombarde	2351	1	1	2008	2008	[23]
Luz Ardiden, Luz Ardiden	1715	7	7	1985	2011	[24]
Madeleine, Col de laCol de la Madeleine	1993	23	15	1980	2012	[25]
Mont-Cenis, Col duCol du Mont-Cenis	2083	5	1	1999	1999	[26]
Pailhères, Port dePort de Pailhères	2001	3	2	2005	2010	[27]
Pla d'Adet, Pla d'Adet	1669	9	4	1981	2005	[28]
Pra Loup, Pra Loup	1630	2	1	1980	1980	[29]
Puy de Dôme, Puy de Dôme	1415	13	2	1983	1986	[30]
Soudet, Col duCol du Soudet	1540	6	2	1987	2006	[31]
Soulor, Col duCol du Soulor	1474	22	1	1982	1982	[32]
Superbagnères, Superbagnères	1770	6	1	1986	1986	[33]
Tourmalet, Col duCol du Tourmalet	2115	54	20	1980	2012	[34]	No. of times visited includes stage finishes at La Mongie
Val Thorens, Val Thorens	2275	1	1	1994	1994	[35]
Ventoux, MontMont Ventoux	1909	14	4	1987	2009	[36]

See also

• List of highest paved roads in Europe
• List of mountain passes