Who won the first Tour de France stage finish atop Alpe d’Huez in 1976?

Joop Zoetemelk won the first Tour de France stage finish atop Alpe d’Huez in 1976.

The climb first appeared in the Tour de France during the 1976 edition, when Stage 10 finished at the ski resort above Bourg-d’Oisans. Zoetemelk won the mountain-top stage, while overall race leader Lucien Van Impe finished behind him. The climb quickly became one of the Tour’s most recognisable landmarks.

Alpe d’Huez is known for its 21 numbered hairpin bends and its steep, exposed ascent. Although it is often treated as an iconic Tour fixture, it has not appeared in every edition. Its inclusion depends on route design and negotiations with host communities.

Joop Zoetemelk later won the 1980 Tour de France. The Dutch rider also finished second in the Tour six times, a record for runner-up placings. The 1976 stage victory is distinct from winning the overall Tour and from later victories by riders such as Marco Pantani and Lance Armstrong.