How to get to Alpe d'Huez
Flying plus transfer from the airport
The nearest airport to Alpe d'Huez is Grenoble Isere airport but there are virtually no international flights here in the summer. Your nearest option is Lyon followed by Geneva. The transfer from Lyon takes about 1.45 hours and from Geneva about 3 hours. Even though the transfer is slightly longer, Geneva offers a larger selection of airlines and better prices. Once at the airport, you can take our airport transfers or if the times don't suit, you can book a private transfers or you could rent a car and drive.
Train
Lyon Airport has a TGV station. Grenoble also has a train station but you'd need to make your own arrangements from there by renting a car or booking a private transfer which can be costly. There are also buses that go from Grenoble and Lyon to Alpe d'Huez.
Driving
From the UK driving from Calais to Alpe d'Huez will take about 9 hours and cost in the region of £75 in tolls one way. Once in Alpe d'Huez there's plenty of free parking.
Alpe d’Huez
One of the most iconic climbs of the Tour de France and of cycling in general. The 21 hairpin bends up to the ‘Ile au Soleil’ are on every cyclist’s bucket list. A popular ski resort in the winter, the resort turns into a cycling mecca in the summer. Apart from the Marmotte, other events in June/ July 2022 include: the Haute Route Alpe d’Huez, the Etape du Tour, the Megavalanche and the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon.
Alpe d’Huez featured in the Etape du Tour for the last time in 2011 with a 109km stage from Modane/ Valfrejus. It last featured in the Tour de France in 2018 when Geraint Thomas was victorious. Geraint Thomas became the first British winner at Alpe d’Huez on the occasion of the 30th finish in the ski resort of the Oisans. He was also the first rider to win a road stage to Alpe d’Huez with the yellow jersey. He outsprinted Tom Dumoulin, Romain Bardet, Chris Froome and Mikel Landa to extend his lead in the overall ranking.
For training, Alpe du Zwift on Zwift is a fairly accurate representation of the climb so ideal to get stuck into over the winter!
