Hors catégorie

Hors catégorie is a French term used in cycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", or an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs in cycling are designated from Category 1 (hardest) to Category 4 (easiest), based on steepness, length, and how far into the stage they are encountered. A climb that is harder than Category 1 is designated as hors catégorie. The term was originally used for those mountain roads where cars were not expected to be able to pass.

History

When the mountains classification in the Tour de France originated in the 1933 Tour de France, there was only one type of mountain. Points were given to the first cyclists to cross the mountains, starting with 10 points for the first cyclist, going down to 1 point for the tenth cyclist. After the Second World War, in the 1947 Tour de France, the mountains were divided into two categories, the first and the second category. The first category mountains gave 10 points to the first cyclist, similar to before 1939, and the second category mountains gave only 5 points to the first cyclist.

The division in categories was successful, and two years later, in 1949, the third category was added. These were even smaller mountains, which gave 3 points to the cyclist reaching the peak first.

In 1962, the fourth category was added. The points system was also revised: the first category now gave 15 points for the first cyclist, the second category 10 points, the third category 5 points and the fourth category 3 points. Although the fourth category disappeared in 1963, it came back again in 1964. The system with four categories kept in place until 1978, although the points distribution changed over the years.

In 1979, four categories was considered not enough, and another category was added. Instead of adding a fifth category, the Tour organisation decided to add a hors catégorie.

Tour de France

The following climbs used in the Tour de France have been ranked "Hors catégorie" at least once. Climbs that have been announced as HC for the upcoming 2015 Tour are indicated in italics.

Col	Height (m.)	No. of times visited	No. of HC climbs	First time as HC climb	Most recent	Notes
Agnel, ColCol Agnel	2744	2	2	2008	2011	The first appearance of the climb in 2008 wasn't planned initially, as the stage was designed to go through the Maddalena Pass. Due to a seismic risk on the pass, the route was changed three months before the start of the race and the Col Agnel was included.
Alpe d'Huez, Alpe d'Huez	1850/1860	29	25	1979	2013	In 2013, the Alpe was visited twice on Stage 18, firstly crossing below the summit at 1765m before returning as the stage finish at the summit (1850m).
Andorra Arcalis, Andorra Arcalis	2240	2	2	1997	2009
Annecy-Semnoz, Annecy-Semnoz	1655	2	1	2013	2013	In 1998, the Semnoz (known as Crêt de Châtillon) was part of the route and was a 1st category climb. However, during the stage, racers went on strike to protest against the excessive police measures. The stage, although fully completed, was declared void.
Aubisque !Col d'Aubisque	1709	48	14	1980	2012	No. of times visited includes stage finishes at Gourette
Balès, Port dePort de Balès	1755	4	4	2007	2014
Beille, Plateau dePlateau de Beille	1780	5	5	1998	2011
Bonette, Col de laCol de la Bonette	2715	4	2	1993	2008	Highest Hors Catégorie climb to date.
Chamrousse, Chamrousse	1730	2	2	2001	2014
Croix-de-Fer, Col de laCol de la Croix-de-Fer	2067	16	8	1989	2012	Shares the same slopes from the col du Glandon on two sides.
Galibier, Col duCol du Galibier	2556/2645	56	19	1979	2011	Highest stage finish in the history of the Tour de France.
Glandon, Col duCol du Glandon	1924	12	4	1981	2013
Grand Colombier, Col duCol du Grand Colombier	1501	1	1	2012	2012	Only climb in the Jura mountains to have received the Hors Catégorie rating.
Grand Saint-Bernard, Col duCol du Grand Saint-Bernard	2465	5	1	2009	2009
Granon, Col duCol du Granon	2413	1	1	1986	1986
Hautacam, Hautacam	1560	5	5	1994	2014
Iseran !Col de l'Iseran	2770	5	2	1992	2007
Isola 2000, Isola 2000	1900	1	1	1993	1993
Izoard !Col d'Izoard	2360	33	7	1986	2014
Joux-Plane, Col deCol de Joux-Plane	1691	11	6	1981	2006
La Plagne, La Plagne	1980	4	4	1984	2002
Larrau, Port dePort de Larrau	1573	2	2	1996	2007
La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse, La Ruchère-en-Chartreuse	1160	1	1	1984	1984	Lowest Hors Catégorie climb to date.
Lombarde, Col de laCol de la Lombarde	2351	1	1	2008	2008
Luz Ardiden, Luz Ardiden	1715	8	8	1985	2011
Madeleine, Col de laCol de la Madeleine	1993	25	17	1980	2013
Mont-Cenis, Col duCol du Mont-Cenis	2083	5	1	1999	1999
Pailhères, Port dePort de Pailhères	2001	5	4	2005	2013
Pla d'Adet, Pla d'Adet	1669	10	5	1981	2014	1982 Tour de France finish was planned to end at the col de Portet, but was ultimately cancelled and the finish line was moved back to Pla d'Adet.
Pra Loup, Pra Loup	1630	2	1	1980	1980
Puy de Dôme, Puy de Dôme	1415	13	2	1983	1986	Only climb in the Massif Central to have received the Hors Catégorie rating
Soudet, Col duCol du Soudet	1540	6	2	1987	2006
Soulor, Col duCol du Soulor	1474	22	1	1982	1982	Usually climbed while descending the col d'Aubisque from its west side.
Superbagnères, Superbagnères	1770	6	1	1986	1986
Tourmalet, Col duCol du Tourmalet	2115	83	24	1980	2014	No. of times visited includes stage finishes at La Mongie.
Val Thorens, Val Thorens	2275	1	1	1994	1994
Ventoux, MontMont Ventoux	1909	15	6	1987	2013