The first climb begins at kilometre 0 and the crest is reached at kilometre 15.7. Col du Pillon is not the steepest pass in the world as it is averaging 3.1%. Last year, the climb featured in the Tour de Romandie. Simon Yates attacked on its slopes to race to victory in the penultimate stage.
Following a long descent the riders reach a flat entr’acte that lasts until kilometre 106, where the haul up to Montana begins. The 13.9 kilometres go up at 5.6%, although that average is biased by a 1.5 kilometres plateau that ends 3 kilometres before the crest.
Back in the valley there is hardly time for a breather. After a few kilometres on the flat the route starts to climb again. Firstly, 5.6 kilometres at 3.8% and following 1.5 kilometres on level ground the final haul up to Leukerbad presents itself. The climb is 14.6 kilometres and the average gradient 4.6%. The section between kilometre 6 to kilometre 11 is toughest as it is averaging 6.6%, this is followed by an easier 3 kilometres long section of 3.5%. The slopes reach 5 and 6% in the final kilometre.
The first three riders on the line win time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 101.5 and at kilometre 134.6) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each.
Read also: results/race report 5th stage 2018 Tour de Suisse.
Tour de Suisse 2018 stage 5: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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