Tour de Romandie 2019 Route stage 4: Lucens - Torgon
Underneath you'll read about the original route with an altitude gain of almost 3,500 vertical metres. The first and the last climb remain, while the race skips the Jaun Pass, Saanenmöser and Cole des Mosses. The organisation states: 'The drop in temperature forecast as well as the strong winds and risk of snow showers across the Prealps called for a reduction of the day’s programme. The temperature on the Col des Mosses will be 2°C but with an apparent temperature of -2°C.'
The final climb to ski resort - 12 kilometres à 6% - will be the only hard climb in today's route.
The reduced 4th stage of the Tour de Romandie starts at 14:35 and the race is expected to finish around 17:11 - both are local times.
The first part of the race is the calm before the storm. Following a rolling section the first classified climb is crested in Sorens - at kilometre 43.4. It is a perfect way to stretch the legs before arguably the toughest ascent of the day appears after 72 kilometres. The Jaun Pass is 8 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 8.3%.
The Jaun Pass opens the hard second half of the race, as the toughest climbs all come inside the last 100 kilometres. Up next is the Saanenmöser – 7.5 kilometres at 4.4% – and at kilometre 140 the riders reach the summit of the Cole des Mosses, which is a 13.7 kilometres climb at 4.1%. Not steep, yet a sheer endless toil. Especially since the climb is a likely springboard for GC contenders to slip away.
A long descent runs to the lowest point of the day, Aigle, located at an elevation of 384 metres. Following a short stint in the valley the riders tackle the final ascent to Torgon. The climb to the ski resort is 12 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 6%.
