What are climb categories?

If the minimum criteria are met, climbs are classified according to the following points scale:

• 8,000 or greater: Category 4.
• 16,000 or greater: Category 3.
• 32,000 or greater: Category 2.
• 64,000 or greater: Category 1.
• 80,000 or greater: Hors Catégorie.

What is a category 5 climb?

All climb scores are based on distance, grade/elevation change, and maximum elevation. Cat 5 Climb – These rated climbs are the least difficult of all the categorized climbs. The exactly same methodology is used in determining their difficulty as Cat 4 climbs but they the least difficult of all the rated climbs.

What makes a category 4 climb?

“The easiest is a Category 4, which is typically less than 2km long and about 5 percent grade, or up to 5km at a 2-3 percent grade. A Category 1, once the highest category, can be anything from 8km at 8 percent to 20km at 5 percent. An hors catégorie (“above category”) rating is given to exceptionally tough climbs.

How do they categorize climbs in the Tour de France?

The climbs are divided into categories from 1 (most difficult) to 4 (least difficult) based on their difficulty, measured as a function of their steepness, length, location within the stage (near the start or end), and location in the overall race (early in the race or toward the end).

How does strava calculate category climbs?

Determining Climb Categories A segment can be categorized as a climb on Strava if it meets the following criteria: The average gradient is at least 3.0\% The segment distance is at least 300 meters. The length of the climb (in meters) multiplied by the grade of the climb is greater than 8,000.

What category climb is Mont Ventoux?

queen stage
With the roll call of winners including Poulidor, Merckx, Thévenet, Pantani, Virenque and Froome you can see why most years the Tour de France includes Mont Ventoux it is usually classified as that year’s queen stage.

What is a category 4 climb cycling?

Category 4: Climbs of 250 to 500 feet in elevation gain. Category 3: Climbs of 500 to 1,500 feet in elevation gain. Category 2: Climbs of 1,500 to 3,000 feet in elevation gain. Category 1: Climbs of 3,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation gain. Hors Catégorie (HC) or Above/Beyond Category: Climbs of 5,000+ feet in elevation …

What is the steepest grade in the Tour de France?

The peak of Mont Ventoux reaches an altitude of 1,900 metres. The climb is both long and steep at 15.8km and 8.5\% average gradient.

What is a steep gradient for cycling?

Gradient for cyclists should not generally exceed 6\%, although very short sections with up to 10\% might be acceptable. For longer ascends gradients should be reduced to 2-3\% (but see also the discussion further). Ad 2. Recommended S = 0.075, max S < 0.200.

What are the different categories in the Tour de France?

The Tour de France consists of four classifications that individual riders can win: the general classification (GC), mountains classification, points classification and young rider classification. There is also a team classification. The classifications are essentially different categories that riders compete for.

What is a Category 4 in Tour de France?

According to legend, the Tour de France’s climbs are categorised by the gear that a Citroën 2CV, the iconically French car, had to use to successfully make it to the top. Category 4, the lowest categorisation for the easiest hills, was possible in fourth gear; Category 3 in third gear, and so on.