You could argue the Queen Stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné is split in two parts. The first 70 kilometres come with three climbs. Firstly Côte de Berland, a warm-up of 1.2 kilometre at 7%. After the battle for KOM-points the climb continues for a few more kilometres to a plateau that runs to the foot of Col du Cucheron. After the top a short drop leads to the Col de Porte, which is crested at an elevation of 1,340 metres. In 15.5 kilometres the riders plunge down to Grenoble – 228 metres above sea level and the lowest point in the route. In Grenoble there are almost 100 kilometres left to race.
On rolling roads the route rises gradually to the next mountainous section. With 42 kilometres remaining the riders are in Bourg-d’Oissans, which is the traditional start of the climb to Alpe d’Huez. This time no hairpins however, the route continues to the top of Côte de Garcin before a short drop leads to the base of today’s main course: Col de Sarenne, a 15.3 kilometres climb at 6.9% peaking at 1,979 metres. The last kilometre before the top is averaging 10.3%.
An undulating section ushers in the last challenge. From this side the climb to Alpe d’Huez is 3.7 kilometres at 7.2%.
The first three riders on the line in Alpe d’Huez take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Read also: Results/race report 7th stage 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2017 stage 7: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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