Only the first part of the race takes place on the flat, the rest of the route is constantly undulating. The finish climb consists of three cols in line actually. Combine these and what you’ll get is an ascent of more than 34 kilometres. Most of it is not steep at all, but still…
Finish location Mont Agouial lies on a plateau and to reach it you climb the Col de Mouzères first. This uphill is 6.1 kilometres at 4.8% and a few kilometres after the top the Col de la Lusette begins. This ascent actually leads up to the aforementioned plateau. The Lusette is 11.7 kilometres long and slopes at 7.3%. A short descent leads onto the finish climb of 8.3 kilometres at 4%.
Sounds far from dramatic, yet the Lusette features an interesting section of 4 kilometres with an average gradient of almost 10%. This section starts with 20 kilometres out and it is safe to say that it is the core of the race. Doubtless, GC riders are going to test each other here. Especially the second half of those 4 kilometres is hard with an average slope of more than 11%. If you’re able to shake off some of your rivals you can put considerable time into them. You’ll crest the summit 3 kilometres later before the final run-in to the line goes up at shallow gradients.
The finale is pepped up by time bonuses of 8, 5 and 2 seconds at the top of the Col de la Lusette.
Favourites 6th stage 2020 Tour de France
*** Warren Barguil, Thomas De Gendt, Nicolas Roche, Lennard Kämna
** Alexey Lutsenko, Kasper Asgreen, Greg Van Avermaet, Hugh Carthy
* Julian Alaphilippe, Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar, Tom Dumoulin, Davide Formolo
Take a look at the route of the 6th stage on the Tour de France.