Alpe d’Huez is one of the most well-known climbs among cyclists, and we recently witnessed an astonishing finish at the Tour de Femmes. But how fast are these professionals, really? To find out, we’ll conduct a test where volunteers from the GCN Megabase will take on the Alpe d’Zwift challenge and aim for their best possible time. Will they measure up to the professionals?
0:00 GCN vs TDF Femmes
0:35 Tour de Femmes
1:37 Our Experiment
2:02 Chloe
2:28 Belinda
2:57 Pre-Race Feelings
4:10 Let’s Go Into It
5:56 We Have Conor
7:10 Comparison with the Real Climb
8:27 300 Metres to Go
9:17 Last Effort
10:19 Finish and Post-Race Feelings
Useful Links:
Join this channel to get access to perks 👉 https://gcn.eu/JoinYTmemberships
GCN Uploader 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnuploader
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnshop
GCN WhatsApp Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNwhatsapp
GCN Instagram Broadcast Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/instagrambroadcast
How do you think you’d fare on Alpe d’Huez? Could you keep up with the pros? 🚴♀️
Watch more on GCN…
📹 Can I Ride Down An Alp On A City Bike? 👉 https://youtu.be/O5_PJfPeQ7I
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures
🎵 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Seahorsing – Rebecca Mardal
Recharge – Azucares
Timeloop Grandma – Jobii
Lucid Dreaming (Instrumental Version) – Velee
Made To Be Free (SLCT Remix) (Instrumental Version) – Ray
Smart as You – Dylan Sitts
Trust the Process – Ballpoint
Mash – Wildflowers
#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #tourdefrance #alpedhuez #tdff
📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images
The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.
Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.
Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.
Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling
Thanks to our sponsors:
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
CamelBak: https://gcn.eu/Camelbak
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets
Strava: https://gcn.eu/strava
ShadowStand: https://gcn.eu/ShadowStand
Precision Fuel & Hydration: https://gcn.eu/precisionhydration
AGU: https://gcn.eu/AGUxGCN
Elitewheels: https://gcn.eu/Elitewheels
Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Español – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@GCNTraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn
47 Comments
These pro athletes are really on a different level, my best on Zwift were 57 minutes (fresh), Demi Vollering does this in 10 minutes less at the end of the Tour. This week, I was in the Dolomites and rode up Passo de Giau (imagine Ollie's voice pronouncing it). Again, happy with 1h01m without smoking myself, knowing that I had Falzarego and Valparola to get back home. Then, some random Italian continental team rider appeared and did it in 35-36 minutes on a similar 80-90k loop – that must have also been him on the descent, I couldn't see him after two hairpins – on another level in every aspect.
I know everything is bigger in Conor's world, but great googly moogly! Eleven THOUSAND meters of elevation gained?!? The ol' Alp has had a growth spurt for since Pidcock torched it in the men's tour the other year. I'm amazed the femmes can breathe, let alone ride at that altitude . . . (only joking. We love Conor, seriously).
how fast were the guys? waiting on that video.
Kudos to both Belinda and Chloe not just for a max effort up the Alpe, but also for stepping out from behind the camera to in front of it.
Awesome ride, ladies! Super impressive!
I'd love to know what the women's record is on Alpe d'Huez. There's endless info on men but I couldn’t find anything on the web on the stats for women.
Pickup chloe for the presenter slot pls. Shes a natural.
Lugworms for everyone!
Amazing effort from both. More content with them please.
To compare this great clime with a zwift ride is een insult , both are totally different anyway.
They are very fast!
How on earth are the ladies chatting while killing themselves!?! Bionic women!!
Well done,ladies! Definitely go for the academy!!!!
Thomas Ruth Miller Melissa Gonzalez David
I am curious the difference between doing the climb on Zwift vs real life in terms of time difference…
Great video and good commentary from everyone!
took me 2 hours to do it.
Ugh. Exactly what is the point of this video? Thar riding a bike up a mountain is difficult? We already knew that. That "pro" women cyclists (and I use that term loosely) can ride a bike up a mountain faster than some chicks that work for a bike channel can? We already knew that as well. But what your goofy video fails to address–glosses over and tries to belie in fact–is just how pathetic and over-hyped this ridiculous "Tour de France Femmes" really was. The REAL Tour de France this year was 3500 kilometers racing over 21 days… with 52,000 meters of elevation gain. This lame ass race = 950 kilometers over 7 days… with only 10,000 meters of climbing.
So that means the "women's" Tour de France in 2024 was 75% SHORTER than the men's… and 80% EASIER. WTF is up with that? If it aint the REAL deal… don't call it the "Tour de France". If "pro" women cyclists want any respect at all, they should do the full / equal route… or they shouldn't be able to claim they've competed in / completed the "Tour de France"… right? This weak ass even should have a completely different name altogether. If you go out and run 6.5 miles, you don't go around saying that you ran the New York Marathon… or finished an Ironman. So why is that OK in women's "pro" cycling???
Another fact your goofy video failed to mention was that–as of it's publication–the KOM on Alpe d'Huez on Strava is owned by Sepp Kuss… a current men's pro cycling rider–who won the Vuelta Espana last year. The QOM is currently held by… Lili Gardner… a nobody / amateur cyclist from the UK that is apparently stronger than every rider in the women's "pro" peloton that has ever done that climb–including every single "pro" women's rider in the 2024 Femmes event. Pretty sad.
interesting concept of reporting here. thank you.
Good video, shame I've bailed out of Zwift! 😂
👍👍🇮🇳🇮🇳❤❤ Kerala India
how do they go below one hour when they only pull 150-160 watts during the climb? I only saw above 200 watts in the final sprint
Chloe and Belinda are excellent! Can they stick on as GCN gals? We need to see them smoke the gents more often!
I think I'd be happy if I even did that climb in twice their time. They rocked that for sure! Next time send them up the real mountain though? Real mountains are always better! 🙂
Chloe, go pro!
Great to see more females on GCN. Hope to see more representation on the channel ongoing now that Manon’s left.
Top job. Do you have a new female presenter lined up now Manons left?
both excellent efforts. Did anyone spot which British Olympic medallist rode up the Alpe faster than Demi V in 2012?
I rode the Alpe something like 40 years ago one time. I think it took me closer to 2 hours.
Day 3 of asking for a free bike😂
What’s going on with Connor’s hair int his video . He so looks like Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber here 😂 “we’ve landed on the moon”!
Geez really well done
Anyone remembers what was the brand that made the GCN socks back in a day when they had the GCN Club and would send you a pair every month?
PLEASE FOLLOW MY JOURNEY TO THE 2028 PARALYMPICS 😬🙂
Hi all,
I’m a former undefeated AIBA boxer with cerebral palsy who competed against fully abled opponents. I now race bikes as a C3 Paracyclist racing road and track.
Can you please subscribe to my page and follow my Paralympic journey. I need 50 subscribers to go live while I’m training, I’ll be doing Q&As, progress video, race footage via GoPro and much more.
Many thanks
Zac 🙂
Chloe defo needs to compete.
Well done, ladies. That was a cracking time from Chloe! Is she doing the Zwift academy tests this year? 🙂
10:26 That's basically the epitome of sprinting up alp d'huez: BLUEGH.
Almost fell out of my chair laughing.
Go girls! Could Chloe be the next female GCN presenter? I do hope so.
What's the mens record? Of course the men are slowed down by the massive crowds.
Brilliant effort from both Chloe and Belinda! Also I'd dread the thought of doing any big effort on Zwift without a fan absolutely on full blast, so even if Conor did sneak a fan on for them I'd imagine it was more of a sufferfest than it could have been if they hadn't been filming.
The pros times are on another level entirely though. Especially when they are doing it at the end of week long stage race nevermind just at the end of that stage 8 of this years TDFF, and with Demi carrying a massive bruise on her hip/lower back from her crash earlier in the race!
Outstanding job ladies, very impressive times. I loved Belinda giving Chloe encouragement as Chloe reached the top.
Great video! Inspired to full send it up Alpe d'Huez / Zwift!
I don't feel so bad having seen this I did it on Zwift day after race 1hr 30mins just getting back after illness and old enough to be these girls Granddad aiming to get it down I hr next couple of weeks, if I can do that I can tell Audrey Cordon-Ragot I have ridden it faster I know Sarah Gigante but I will never beat her time for that climb or Demi's or the girl there with the best time. Interesting to see and what a great race the TDFF was this year. Can you only see Strava segments for this on the paid subscription that is all I want Strava for I am trying to find out if I need free or paid for this, helpful if you can tell me thanks. Tell the girls if they ride it again they will get faster once a week should do it😍
If you race in a big city in the USA, your local cat1 man that tends to win most of the races, the top women have about the same watts/kg as that guy.
Great video. And so nice to see some women on GCN as opposed to the usual sausage fest! More Chloe and Belinda and/or other female riders!
I really loved seeing this prospective of comparing the everyday person to the elites in 1st and last place. Great job ladies!
Great ride ladies. Chloe enjoy the new bike. It looks great!
56 minutes on the Alpe is superb. Chloe has some real talent if she wanted to explore it.