The Critérium du Dauphiné is nearing the high mountains on the sixth day of action. In fact, the Mont Blanc massif looms large in the background during the finale, but the real hardship – aka the long climbs – is saved for the coming two days.
Stage 6 begins in Nantua, a village in the Jura Mountains, and the first part of the race takes place on undulating terrain. The Côte de Clermont-en-Genevois presents the first proper climb – 7.5 kilometres at 4.7% – before the route continues as before.
The terrain changes when the riders start climbing out of the valley of the Arve River, with 50 kilometres to go. It begins as a false flat and intensifies after moving through Saint-Jean-de Sixt. The Col des Aravis is 7.8 kilometres long and averaging 5.7%.
The Aravis, including the descent, will also be included in this July’s showdown. Stage 15 of the Tour de France travels the same roads until Fulmet. The Tour will turn left to Megève and eventually Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, the Dauphiné turns right to enter an intriguing finale. The Côte de Notre-Dame-de Bellecomb and the finish climb are lined-up right after each other. There is only a short downhill seperating the two.
The Côte de Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe is a 3.2 kilometre climb at 6.1% and the climb to the line is 2.3 kilometres long and averaging 6.6%.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 6 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Another interesting read: results 6th stage 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 stage 6: route, profile, more
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