Recee - 2012 TdF Stage 10 - the Grand Colombier

[Russell in France]

I'm an English cyclist based in France and spent Monday morning riding the Grand Colombier. This is the main climb of stage 10 of this year's Tour de France and it will be the first time that the Tour de France has raced this mountain. The Criterium du Dauphine will race the Grand Colombier at the start of June.

It was the first time I'd ridden the climb and I wasn't sure what to expect.

Here's the video diary of the climb:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9EoIMJYmuQ

I'm sure it will be a great addition to the race - it's a tough 18km ascent with undulating gradient. The descent is also steep and technical.

Profile of Grand Colombier from Culoz
http://www.salite.ch/grandcolombier.asp

The Grand Colombier is not the final climb of the day and the riders still have over 40km and one smaller mountain to ride before the finish in Bellegarde, but a climber will certainly be able to take advantage of the steep slopes. We will have to see if they want to use their legs the day before a big Alpine day.

If you're going to watch on the climb, the best views can be found in the first kilometres and the final three kilometres. The middle section is ridden under the cover of trees with not many views. At the top, there is a fantastic view in every direction.

Cheers, Russell

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I'm an English cyclist based in France and spent Monday morning riding the Grand Colombier. This is the main climb of stage 10 of this year's Tour de France and it will be the first time that the Tour de France has raced this mountain. The Criterium du Dauphine will race the Grand Colombier at the start of June.

It was the first time I'd ridden the climb and I wasn't sure what to expect.

Here's the video diary of the climb:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9EoIMJYmuQ

I'm sure it will be a great addition to the race - it's a tough 18km ascent with undulating gradient. The descent is also steep and technical.

Profile of Grand Colombier from Culoz
http://www.salite.ch/grandcolombier.asp

The Grand Colombier is not the final climb of the day and the riders still have over 40km and one smaller mountain to ride before the finish in Bellegarde, but a climber will certainly be able to take advantage of the steep slopes. We will have to see if they want to use their legs the day before a big Alpine day.

If you're going to watch on the climb, the best views can be found in the first kilometres and the final three kilometres. The middle section is ridden under the cover of trees with not many views. At the top, there is a fantastic view in every direction.

Cheers, Russell

Thank you for everything except the music