Which Tour de France climb category is rated above category 1?

Hors catégorie is the Tour de France climb classification rated above Category 1.

The French phrase means “beyond categorization” and is abbreviated HC. It identifies the hardest climbs used in stage races. In the standard hierarchy, HC is tougher than Category 1, followed by Categories 2, 3, and 4, with Category 4 the easiest classified grade.

Climbs are assessed mainly through length and steepness, but their position in a stage can also affect the designation. A climb that might normally receive a lower rating can be treated as HC when it forms a particularly demanding summit finish or plays a decisive role in the route.

The term originally referred to mountain roads considered so difficult that cars were not expected to pass over them. The mountains classification itself began in the 1933 Tour, although the modern five-level system developed later. Hors catégorie should not be confused with a sprint classification: it concerns mountain difficulty and awards points toward the polka-dot jersey.