Thread by @cyclingalps

1/ Just for fun, I am going to list some of my favourite cycling climbs for hairpin lovers: first has to be the old cobble Tremola road up the south side of Gotthard Pass (Switzerland) #cycling #hairpins (3rd photo angle taken from inside the galleria tunnel of main road).

2/ The amazing 46 hairpins up to Col de Tende (French side, Italian name is Colle di tenda). Also, great unpaved military ridge roads above --- first photo taken from an old fort.

3/ OK, of course Passo dello Stelvio. Amazing: 48 signed hairpins. But don't forget, the less "famous" Bormio side (3rd and 4th photos) also has 40 signed hairpins. Oh, and they sell beer at the summit!

4/ Since we're talking about roads with signed hairpins: the super high climb to Kaunertal, Austria (2750m) has 29 signed hairpins (kehre!).
They sell beer at the summit also.

5/ Just down the road from UCI headquarters in Aigle Switzerland is one of the toughest climbs I know: to Rionda. The first 29(!) hairpins are paved to Morcle. Then the route is unpaved and ultimately there are more than 50 hairpins. Tough and Swiss beautiful.

6/ Les Lacets de Montvernier will be in the 2022 Tour de France. Only 2.5 kms long, remember to continue far higher to Col du Chaussy. Here is one of my better cycling Videos featuring les Lacets:

7/ The fearsome Colle delle Finestre has 45 hairpins. The hairpin view from summit is fabulous (first 2 photos), but lower down there is a stretch with 30 hairpins in only 3 kms! Remember, one can MUCH higher on the unpaved old military road Strada dell'Assietta (4th photo)

8/ The climb I get the most emails of thanks for recommending is Col de l'Arpettaz. Near Annecy, Arpettaz has 42(!) hairpins and is so quiet. Wooohooo. Also, don't forget to continue higher on the amazing gravel route de la Soif (thirst route, 4th photo)

Here's an obscure one. Near Albertville, The climbs to Chalet de l'Ebaudiaz is the same length and has a touch more ascent than Alkpe d'Huez ..... but has 39 hairpins vs 21, and you won't see a car. Mainly wooded, I have no good hairpin (virage) photos.

10/ Near Briançon (the base of Izoard is a superb tiny climb to La Croix de Toulouse. Only 6.3 kms, it has 29 hairpins.

11/ @friebos called it the holy grail of cycling. Colle del Sommeiller has roughly 50 hairpins. Unpaved higher up. Fabulous. The summit is 2993 metres, so I hiked 7 metres higher with my bike to reach 3000m (4th photo). 1st photo shows how beautiful this climb is.

@friebos 12/ I think Col del Nivolet is the most beautiful climb in the Alps. And it has some amazing hairpins. Most of you are familiar with the higher up view with all the lakes. But see the 4th photo for some of the hairpins lower down. The absolute best.

@friebos 13/ Perhaps my favourite view in the Alps? Near the summit of Grimselpass one sees the hairpins below, and also the distant hairpins of Furkapass (think Goldfinger). And the Rhône glacier/source of Rhône river that runs across Switzerland, through France to the Mediterranean.

@friebos 14/ Worst signed hairpin climb? "Like many famous cycling climbs, the hairpins are numbered. But unlike Gotthard (38), Alpe d’Huez (21), Stelvio (40’s?), etc. This bastard of a climb had 8! Fucking only 8. And I swear to God that it took me an hour to get from #4 to #5" :-)

@friebos 15/ I can highly recommend Col du Noyer in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. The final few hairpins ..... wooohoooo.

@friebos 16/ Remember, the best way to climb Cormet de Roselend is the 3rd option via Col du Pré because you get the amazing lake view and then can ride over the damn dam. BUT the earlier hairpins up to Col du Pré are quite awesome too.

@friebos 17. Les Lacets (hairpins) du Grand Colombier have gained fame in recent years thanks to the Tour. Traditionally a feature climb in the Tour de l'Ain. There are 4 tough ways up this mountain, but via les Lacets is the most scenic w/ views of the largest lake in France (Bourget).

@friebos 18/ You want scenic hairpins? The top of Col du Glandon is truly special:

@friebos 19/ Sorry this is so long, but I just opened another beer. GALIBIER. The summit of Col du Galibier is actually a hairpin (first photo). And of course Galibier has lots of other stunning hairpins.

@friebos 20/ OK, here's an easy quiz: name a very famous French Alps cycling climb with 21 signed hairpins? What? No! It's La Plagne. And yes, I once skied there and scouted out hairpins and climbs for summer mountain biking.

@friebos 21/ A route planning secret? I sometimes scan maps looking for hairpin-filled roads. This ride has 50 or so full 180 degree hairpins going up, roughly half paved, and half gravel: Col de la Chauvière – Above Grand Naves.

@friebos 22/ The paved climb to Torri di Fraele is nothing but hairpins (1st photo). Then one can climb for 26 unpaved to kms finishing directly above Stelvio. In total more than 100 full hairpins? Zoom the map here and count: cycling-challenge.com/stelvio-unpave…

@friebos 23/ OK, I need to stop. Yes, I have actually cycled Alpe d'Huez, and no, I don't hate it. I once photo'd every hairpin while descending, each sign with a Tour stage winner (or two). But remember, there are a 100 cycling climbs better than Alpe d'Huez: cycling-challenge.com/100-cycling-cl…

@friebos PS - All photos in thread are mine, taken by me.

@friebos 24/ I have a slightly strange but fun hobby: Searching for heart shaped hairpins: (Izoard, Bonette, Fauniera, Hahntennjoch).

@friebos 25/ The Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse to Bielerhöhe (Austria) has 29 signed hairpins and you can ride on the dam at the summit.