Albertville and the Tour de France have been intertwined in recent years. Five out of the last seven editions did see a stage start from the town in the foothills of the Alps. Usually, the stage enters the high mountains, which is the case in 2022 as well.
The stage is set to finish at the Col du Granon. Only once before did the yellow caravan stop on the mountain in the Serre Chevalier ski area. Eduardo Chozes climbed to the stage honours, while Greg Lemond took the yellow jersey from Bernard Hinualt that day. We are talking 36 years ago here. Six stages later Greg Lemond won his first of three Grandes Boucles.
But, first things first. The first hour of racing takes place on flat roads. Then the Lacets de Montvernier is a good place to test the legs. Just 3.4 kilometres long and averaging 8.2%. Which is nothing compared to the giants ahead.
Albertville and the Tour de France may have been intertwined in recent years, the Télégraphe and Galibier are intertwined since the dawn of time. Together they comprise a 35 kilometres climb, but if you take them apart, the Télégraphe accounts for 11.9 kilometres of climbing at 7.1%, and, after a short downhill, the Galibier adds another 17.7 kilometres at 6.9% to the hardship.
The Galibier peaks out with 45 kilometres remaining. Most goes downhill to Saint-Chaffrey at the foot of the Col du Granon. Which is a steady climb in the sense that the gradients never fall below 8%. The Granon is 11.3 kilometres, features sevral double digit sectors, and averages 9.2%.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
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Another interesting read: results 11th stage 2022 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2022 stage 11: routes, profiles, more
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