Question on hill categorization

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can someone explain what a "Cat 4" (or Cat anything) hill is? I've noticed that the past few days
of le Tour they've mentioned these climbs when showing the map of the route. But I haven't seem
them note when they're on such a climb or what the climb involves.

It means that the hill is so easy that even a Cat 4 can climb it.

Kurgan Gringioni said:

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can someone explain what a "Cat 4" (or Cat anything) hill is? I've noticed that the past few days
of le Tour they've mentioned these climbs when showing the map of the route. But I haven't seem
them note when they're on such a climb or what the climb involves.

It means that the hill is so easy that even a Cat 4 can climb it.

"Hors Categorie" then being one that hookers can climb.

Kurgan Gringioni said:

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can someone explain what a "Cat 4" (or Cat anything) hill is? I've noticed that the past few days
of le Tour they've mentioned these climbs when showing the map of the route. But I haven't seem
them note when they're on such a climb or what the climb involves.

It means that the hill is so easy that even a Cat 4 can climb it.

A Cat 4 can climb anything a pro can, just a lot slower.

Someone should write a faq for TdF time. It could be re-posted daily in July.

This was covered thoroughly in the VeloNews guide to the tour, and will no doubt be explained in a
future broadcast, so keep watching.

But a cat 4 climb is one that a 1969 Citroen (French auto) can climb in 4th gear. A cat 3 requires
3rd gear, etc. There are hors categorie climbs (Alpe du Huez, Galibier and others) that the car
can't manage without the help of bystanders.

(There's apparently a set of technical standards somewhere that they really use, but it's ultimately
subjective.)

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Raptor said:

Quoted message said:

Someone should write a faq for TdF time. It could be re-posted daily in July.

cyclingnews.comtour03Open ↗

"heather halvorson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Raptor said:

Quoted message said:

Someone should write a faq for TdF time. It could be re-posted daily in July.

cyclingnews.comtour03Open ↗

Finally a voice of reason...that hors category quip by Mr. Fleming was quite funny though...

Cheers,

Scott..

In terms of difficulty, Cat 4 is the easiest and Cat 1 the hardest. A Hors categorie (HC) climb is
beyond categorization because it is so difficult. There are no set % grade or amount of meters
climbed formula for assigning categories. Weather, winds, sun exposure, pavement quality or lack of
pavement and how many km are covered before the climb and after the climb all come into the judging
of the rating.

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can someone explain what a "Cat 4" (or Cat anything) hill is? I've noticed that the past few days
of le Tour they've mentioned these climbs when showing the map of the route. But I haven't seem
them note when they're on such a climb or what the climb involves.

Thanks.

Raymo853 said:

In terms of difficulty, Cat 4 is the easiest and Cat 1 the hardest. A Hors categorie (HC) climb is
beyond categorization because it is so difficult. There are no set % grade or amount of meters
climbed formula for assigning categories. Weather, winds, sun exposure, pavement quality or lack
of pavement and how many km are covered before the climb and after the climb all come into the
judging of the rating.

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can someone explain what a "Cat 4" (or Cat anything) hill is? I've noticed that the past few days
of le Tour they've mentioned these climbs when showing the map of the route. But I haven't seem
them note when they're on such a climb or what the climb involves.

Thanks.

It origanally took two frenchmen and a citreon. They judged the climbs by what gear the car had to
use to get up. HC was when the F***in thing just wouldn't go any farther and they had to walk.