Tour de France Legends: The Most Thrilling Mountain Stages of the Past Decade

The Tour de France creates new legendary moments every year, but some stages are particularly unforgettable. Here are the most stunning mountain stages of the past decade—moments that rewrote Tour history and defined the face of modern road cycling.

2015: Froome’s Unorthodox Surge at La Pierre-Saint-Martin

Stage: Stage 10, La Pierre-Saint-Martin → La Pierre-Saint-Martin

When Froome dropped all his rivals on the final climb and crossed the line with his bizarre upper-body rocking motion, the whole world was stunned. His climbing style—leaning low over the handlebars while spinning a high cadence—was mocked by critics, yet it allowed him to maintain a high pedal rhythm on any gradient.

Result: Froome took the lead and ultimately claimed his second Tour de France title.

2016: The Masterclass Chaos of Mont Ventoux

Stage: Stage 12, summit finish at Mont Ventoux

The day was full of drama: strong winds forced the organisers to shorten the stage, but the finish-line change was not fully communicated, leaving teams confused about the actual finish location. Combined with massive crowds flooding the mountain road, Froome was knocked down by a spectator and his bike was damaged. He briefly resorted to running up the mountain (unable to find a spare bike)—one of the most chaotic moments in Tour history.

Aftermath: The commissaires adjusted the time gaps, but the controversy lingered for years.

2019: Bernal’s One-Man Show at Tignes

Stage: Stage 19 (shortened), Val d’Isère → Tignes

Bad weather forced the stage to be cut short. But before the shortened finish, young Colombian rider Egan Bernal had already surged ahead, displaying breathtaking climbing ability. He ultimately became the youngest modern Tour de France champion at the age of 22.

2020: Pogačar’s Perfect Comeback

Stage: Stage 20 (individual time trial), Lure → La Planche des Belles Filles

One of the greatest comebacks in Tour de France history. Before the stage, Roglič held a 57-second lead in the general classification and had the title all but locked up. But on the final individual time trial, 21-year-old Tadej Pogačar displayed extraordinary time-trialling ability, not only erasing the deficit but overtaking to take the win.

Numbers: Pogačar was a full 1 minute and 21 seconds faster, ultimately winning the Tour by 59 seconds.

2022: Vingegaard vs Pogačar at Hautacam

Stage: Stage 18, Lourdes → Hautacam

This stage was the finest duel of 2022. Pogačar tried to attack on the climb, but Vingegaard not only matched him but counter-attacked. In the end, Vingegaard gained more than 2 minutes, cementing his advantage for the title.

Significance: That day announced a changing of the guard, as Vingegaard firmly established himself as Tour de France champion.

2023: Pogačar’s All-In Gamble

Stage: Stage 6, Tarbes → Cauterets-Cambasque

In the Pyrenees, Pogačar attempted a heroic long-range breakaway, launching his attack a full 30 km from the finish. Although he ultimately did not fully succeed, it showcased his relentless, aggressive riding style.

Conclusion

The greatness of the Tour de France lies not only in the final champion, but in the dramatic moments played out on the mountaintops. Behind every rider who steps onto the podium are countless moments of grit and perseverance on the slopes of the Alps or the Pyrenees. These moments are the most captivating soul of road cycling.

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