Easy Bike Assistant: Legendary climbs: how would you do?

Europe's 20 most famous climbs, from Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux to the Stelvio and the Angliru: figures, profile, a short history, and the time, difficulty and food plan at your power.

• Alpe d'Huez: The Tour de France's most famous climb: 13.8 km at about 8% through 21 numbered hairpins from Le Bourg-d'Oisans to the ski resort. The first kilometres are the hardest.
• Mont Ventoux: The 'Giant of Provence': over 21 km from Bédoin, with the middle kilometres in the forest averaging about 9-10% and the last 6 km across an exposed, stony slope, often in strong wind.
• Col du Tourmalet: The most famous pass in the Pyrenees: about 19 km from Luz-Saint-Sauveur at about 7.4%, a long, even effort to 2,115 m. The other popular side starts at Sainte-Marie-de-Campan.
• Col du Galibier: One of the highest passes of the Tour de France (2,642 m): 18 km from Valloire, gentle at first and harder in the final kilometres, in thin air.
• Col d'Izoard: The classic north side: about 19 km from Briançon through Cervières. It starts at about 6%, then flattens with a short descent, and from Le Laus (km 11) climbs in hairpins through a larch forest, often at about 8%, with a maximum of 11%.
• Col de la Madeleine: One of the longest and hardest climbs of the French Alps: about 19 km from La Chambre at almost 8%, without long easy sections, to 1,993 m.
• Col de la Croix de Fer: A very long, irregular climb from the Le Bourg-d'Oisans side: over 30 km with a short descent in the middle and steep pitches, to 2,067 m. It is the route of the famous La Marmotte sportive.
• Col d'Aubisque: A Pyrenean classic: about 16.5 km from Laruns, hardest between Eaux-Bonnes and Gourette, with a scenic final stretch to the pass at 1,709 m.
• Col de la Loze: The newest of the Tour's great climbs: over 21 km from Brides-les-Bains through Méribel to 2,304 m, with the top section on a narrow car-free road with very irregular, steep ramps.
• Grand Colombier: A climb in the Jura above the Rhône valley: about 17.5 km from Culoz at about 7%, with very steep sections in the middle and a fine view of the Alps and Lac du Bourget from the top.
• Passo dello Stelvio: The most famous pass of the Eastern Alps: almost 25 km of steady climbing through 48 numbered hairpins to 2,758 m. A long, even effort where pacing matters more than attacking.
• Passo del Mortirolo: Shorter than the alpine giants but one of Europe's hardest climbs: over 12 km at about 10.5% on a narrow wooded road, with no let-up.
• Monte Zoncolan: One of the steepest climbs in pro cycling: about 10 km averaging almost 12%, with several kilometres above 15% in the middle. Your lightest gear decides it.
• Passo di Gavia: Over 17 km on a narrow high-mountain road to 2,621 m, with an unlit tunnel low down and kilometres above 10% in the middle. A Giro legend, especially in bad weather.
• Passo di Giau: One of the hardest Dolomite passes: just under 10 km at over 9% with 29 hairpins and no flat sections.
• Tre Cime di Lavaredo: A short but very steep finale below the famous Three Peaks: after an easy start from Misurina, the last 4 km or so have ramps close to 20% and end at the Auronzo hut.
• Colle delle Finestre: Almost 19 km at about 9%, with the last 8 km or so on gravel, which makes the Finestre one of the most distinctive Giro climbs. A wider tyre helps on the gravel.
• Passo Pordoi: A classic Dolomite pass and the gentlest climb in this list: about 9 km at about 7% through hairpins below the Sella massif. A good first high-mountain climb.
• Alto de l'Angliru: The steepest of the Vuelta's great climbs: the first half is moderate, but the last 6 km or so average about 13% with ramps above 20%, including the Cueña les Cabres (23.6%) about 3 km from the top.
• Lagos de Covadonga: The Vuelta's best-known climb: about 12.5 km at about 7% from the Covadonga sanctuary to the glacial lakes of the Picos de Europa.