Hors catégorie - wikipedia Hors catégorie Hors catégorie ( HC ) is a French term used in stage bicycle races to designate a climb that is `` beyond categorization ''. The term was originally used for those mountain roads where cars were not expected to be able to pass. The HC climb is the most difficult type of climb in a race. It is more demanding than a Category 1 climb which in turn is more demanding than a Category 2 climb and so on. The easiest category is Category 4. These five categories are defined by their steepness and length. In addition, their position on the route can play a role. For instance, a climb that would normally be a Category 1 climb can become a HC climb if it is the final climb of a stage. The average HC climb in the Tour de France from 2012 to 2016 is 16.1 kilometers long and has a grade of 7.4. There are around 7 HC climbs per Tour. Contents 1 History 2 Tour de France 3 See also 4 Notes 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. Col Height ( m. ) No. of times visited No. of HC climbs First time as HC climb Most recent Profile Notes Agnel, Col Col Agnel 2744 2008 2011 ( 1 ) The first appearance of the climb in 2008 was n'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 30 26 1979 2015 ( 2 ) 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 1997 2016 ( 3 ) Annecy - Semnoz, Annecy - Semnoz 1655 2013 2013 ( 4 ) 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 ( 5 ) No. of times visited includes stage finishes at Gourette Balès, Port de Port de Balès 1755 5 5 2007 2017 ( 6 ) Beille, Plateau de Plateau de Beille 1780 6 6 1998 2015 ( 7 ) Bonette, Col de la Col de la Bonette 2715 / 2802 1993 2008 ( 8 ) Highest Hors Catégorie climb to date. Chamrousse, Chamrousse 1730 2001 2014 ( 9 ) Croix - de-Fer, Col de la Col de la Croix - de-Fer 2067 19 11 1989 2017 ( 10 ) Shares the same slopes from the col du Glandon on two sides. Galibier, Col du Col du Galibier 2556 / 2645 57 20 1979 2017 ( 11 ) Highest stage finish in the history of the Tour de France. In 2015, the climb was scheduled to be used, but ultimately was n't due to landslides. The Col de la Croix de Fer was used instead. Glandon, Col du Col du Glandon 1924 13 5 1981 2015 ( 12 ) Grand Colombier, Col du Col du Grand Colombier 1501 2012 2017 ( 13 ) Grand Saint - Bernard, Col du Col du Grand Saint - Bernard 2465 5 2009 2009 ( 14 ) Granon, Col du Col du Granon 2413 1986 1986 ( 15 ) Hautacam, Hautacam 1560 5 5 1994 2014 ( 16 ) Iseran ! Col de l'Iseran 2770 5 1992 2007 ( 17 ) Isola 2000, Isola 2000 1900 1993 1993 ( 18 ) Izoard ! Col d'Izoard 2360 34 8 1986 2017 ( 19 ) Joux - Plane, Col de Col de Joux - Plane 1691 12 7 1981 2016 ( 20 ) La Plagne, La Plagne 1980 1984 2002 ( 21 ) Larrau, Port de Port de Larrau 1573 2007 ( 22 ) La Ruchère - en - Chartreuse, La Ruchère - en - Chartreuse 1160 1984 1984 ( 23 ) Lowest Hors Catégorie climb to date. Lombarde, Col de la Col de la Lombarde 2351 2008 2008 ( 24 ) Luz Ardiden, Luz Ardiden 1715 8 8 1985 2011 ( 25 ) Madeleine, Col de la Col de la Madeleine 1993 25 17 1980 2013 ( 26 ) Mont - Cenis, Col du Col du Mont - Cenis 2083 5 1999 1999 ( 27 ) Pailhères, Port de Port de Pailhères 2001 5 2005 2013 ( 28 ) Pla d'Adet, Pla d'Adet 1669 10 5 1981 2014 ( 29 ) 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. Puy de Dôme, Puy de Dôme 1415 13 1986 ( 30 ) Only climb in the Massif Central to have received the Hors Catégorie rating Soudet, Col du Col du Soudet 1540 6 2006 ( 31 ) Soulor, Col du Col du Soulor 1474 22 1982 1982 ( 32 ) Usually climbed while descending the col d'Aubisque from its west side. Superbagnères, Superbagnères 1770 6 1986 1986 ( 33 ) Tourmalet, Col du Col du Tourmalet 2115 88 26 1980 2016 ( 34 ) No. of times visited includes stage finishes at La Mongie. Val Thorens, Val Thorens 2275 1994 1994 ( 35 ) Ventoux, Mont Mont Ventoux 1909 16 7 2016 ( 36 ) la Pierre St Martin, Col de Col de la Pierre St Martin 1610 2015 2015 ( 37 ) Finhaut - Emosson, Finhaut - Emosson 1960 2016 2016 ( 38 ) Bisanne, Montee de Montee de Bisanne 1723 2016 2016 ( 39 ) Biche, Col de la Col de la Biche 1316 2017 2017 ( 40 ) Mont du Chat, Mont du Chat 1504 2017 2017 See also List of highest paved roads in Europe List of mountain passes Notes Jump up ^ Analysis of categorized climbs at Danskebjerge.dk Jump up ^ All profiles are on Le Tour de France depuis 1947 ( in French ) Tour de France By year 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1989 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Classifications ( `` jerseys '' ) Current General ( maillot jaune ) Points ( maillot vert ) Mountains ( maillot à pois ) Young rider ( maillot blanc ) Team ( classement d'équipes ) Combativity ( prix de combativité ) Former Combination ( maillot du combiné ) Intermediate sprints ( maillot rouge ) Directors 1903 -- 1935 : Henri Desgrange 1936 -- 1961 : Jacques Goddet 1962 -- 1986 : Jacques Goddet and Félix Lévitan 1987 : Jean - François Naquet - Radiguet 1988 : Xavier Louy 1989 -- 2006 : Jean - Marie Leblanc 2007 -- present : Christian Prudhomme Finish locations 1903 -- 1967 : Parc des Princes 1968 -- 1974 : Vélodrome de Vincennes 1975 -- present : Champs - Élysées stage Lists General classification winners Secondary classification winners Grands Départs Records and statistics Mountain passes and hills Articles and topics During World War II Yellow jersey statistics Lanterne rouge Doping Hors catégorie Souvenir Jacques Goddet Souvenir Henri Desgrange Related articles Didi Senft Géo Lefèvre La Course by Le Tour de France Tour de France Soundtracks Tour de l'Avenir Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= Hors_catégorie&oldid = 792588148 '' Categories : Road bicycle racing terminology Tour de France Climbs in cycle racing Hidden categories : Articles with French - language external links Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Français Italiano Latviešu Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 27 July 2017, at 11 : 48. 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Question: what does hc mean in tour de france
Answer: Hors catégorie (HC) is a French term used in stage bicycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization"