Is this the most difficult Tour de France stage ever?

This week, cycling fans and professionals alike have been buzzing with excitement over the recently announced route for the 2025 Tour de France. Among the talking points is a stage that could go down in history as one of the most challenging, pushing even the strongest riders to their limits.

Notorious climbs like Mont Ventoux and Col de la Loze will make their return, to strike fear into the hearts of even the best climbers. These legendary ascents promise gruelling tests of endurance, likely to create dramatic moments and reshuffle the standings.

However, even with these iconic climbs, the 2025 route has yet to surpass the stage with the highest elevation gain in Tour de France history. That record belongs to Stage 18 of the 1983 Tour, which ran from L'Alpe d'Huez to Morzine, covering an astounding 6,400 metres of elevation gain, according to La Flamme Rouge.

Riders that day faced an endless array of punishing climbs, making it a battle of resilience and sheer grit. Jacques Michaud emerged victorious in just under eight hours, a testament to the extreme difficulty of the course. Meanwhile, Laurent Fignon ultimately triumphed in the overall race, claiming his first Tour de France title in a year marked by intense competition and formidable terrain. It was also the year that Sean Kelly of Ireland claimed the points classification.

While the 2025 edition brings its own challenges, including the much-anticipated returns of Mont Ventoux and Col de la Loze, the 1983 stage remains a legendary benchmark. But for now, Stage 18 of 1983 holds its place as one of the most daunting days in Tour history, a reminder of the brutal demands that define cycling’s most iconic race.