Professional Cycling For the Fans - Things you didn't know about "categories"

Hi there,

I've often heard people discuss what "categories" really are. You know, the term used to describe climbs in races such as Tour de France.

Well, I decided to find out about the "system" behind the categorization. You can take a look at the results here: http://www.danskebjerge.dk/article-categories.htm

/Jacob
Editor, Danskebjerge.dk

P.S.: Sorry, no international edition of the entire website as yet.

Here's some data I compiled...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SZy8yOnO-DI/AAAAAAAAFiw/3RSKoae2w3k/s800/Category%20Climbs%20by%20Length.JPG

Here's some data I compiled...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/SZy8yOnO-DI/AAAAAAAAFiw/3RSKoae2w3k/s800/Category%20Climbs%20by%20Length.JPG

No Mont Ventoux in there...?

Hi there,

I've often heard people discuss what "categories" really are. You know, the term used to describe climbs in races such as Tour de France.

Well, I decided to find out about the "system" behind the categorization. You can take a look at the results here: http://www.danskebjerge.dk/article-categories.htm

/Jacob
Editor, Danskebjerge.dk

P.S.: Sorry, no international edition of the entire website as yet.

Danske bjerge? Heh.

(Fra kanten af de fynske alper...)

Just bringing this thread back up. It has some cool info and some new comers might find it usefull :thumb:

Where's Haleakala? :lol:

p.s. - given the gradient, Hamilton would be a long Cat 2 climb, or possibly gain Cat 1 status. I doubt it would actually be graded as HC.

I had the impression that the climb's location in the stage (early on, towards the end after additional climbs, etc) also influenced the category. Is this not true?

I had the impression that the climb's location in the stage (early on, towards the end after additional climbs, etc) also influenced the category. Is this not true?
Absolutely not.
The categories are the rating of how difficult the climb is. You can have a stage with Cat 1 out the gate, followed by a Cat 4, and back to a Cat 1 again. Nothing to do with the order in which they are in the stage :) :)

Absolutely not.
The categories are the rating of how difficult the climb is. You can have a stage with Cat 1 out the gate, followed by a Cat 4, and back to a Cat 1 again. Nothing to do with the order in which they are in the stage :) :)

What I have always heard is there is no system but that later climbs often get bigger numbers then a similar climb at the beginning of the stage.

Absolutely not.
The categories are the rating of how difficult the climb is. You can have a stage with Cat 1 out the gate, followed by a Cat 4, and back to a Cat 1 again. Nothing to do with the order in which they are in the stage :) :)

Here's someone that disagrees with you: http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/5.3.html

Absolutely not.
The categories are the rating of how difficult the climb is. You can have a stage with Cat 1 out the gate, followed by a Cat 4, and back to a Cat 1 again. Nothing to do with the order in which they are in the stage :) :)


I wouldn't say "absolutely not" True you can have a Cat 1 at the beginning of a stage and a 4 at the end.

However, whether a climb is considered an Cat 1, or an HC climb can be influenced by where it is on a stage. A climb that in the middle of a stage might get labeled a 1, may well be labeled HC if its a mountain top finish, particularly if there are no other HC climbs on the stage.

Just look at Friday's profile. The last climb at 10k average 7% is a bit light as HC climbs go, but its labeled HC for friday's race.

Here's someone that disagrees with you: http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/5.3.html

Another dissenting voice.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/tour-de-france-rules-frequently-asked-questions-17218