Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix

Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix - La Bastille, Grenoble

Sunday 11 June - The last stage of the Dauphiné is a brutal test with almost 4,000 metres of climbing within 152.8 kilometres. The finale consists of a long descent down the Col de Porte before a punchy climb to the Fort de la Bastille above Grenoble rounds things off.

The route climbs from the start. First to Saint-Martin-d’Uriage, where the first KOM officially begins. It’s the Côte de Pinet, a 6.3 kilometres long test with an average gradient of 6.1%.

A more lumpy section rounds out the first hour of action with the Col des Mouilles standing out: 3.9 kilometre at 7%. The route then enters the calm before the storm.

The riders enter the heart of the race after 95 kilometres. Three huge ascents are crammed together within 40 kilometres and first up is the Col du Granier, a 9.6 kilometres climb at 8.6%. A 9 kilometres descent leads to Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont before the road goes up again.

The Col du Cucheron is a 7.7 kilometres climb with an average gradient of 6.2%. A relatively short downhill – just 4 kilometres – precedes the Col de Porte. The 7.4 kilometres climb at 6.8% takes the riders to the highest point of the day – at 1,326 metres above sea level.

The summit of the Porte is situated 17 kilometres before the finish. The riders fly down into Grenoble to tackle the climb to La Bastille with 1.8 kilometres left to race. The average gradient sits at 14.2%

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 8 Critérium du Dauphiné 2023.