- Sep 20, 2017
- 12,407
- 23,453
- 28,180
The GC battle is obviously over, so it doesn't really matter that this stage wasn't the best suited to it to begin with. Hopefully a breakaway day, if not, a Pogacar domination borefest seems inevitable.
Stage 9 (Cluses – Tignes, 144.9 km)
Like in 2007, the first two Alpine stages are Grand-Bornand and Tignes. This makes for a second short(ish) mountain stage in a row, keeping the weekend below 300 kilometers total. As a compensation for the heartbreak that was the 2019 stage cancellation, Tignes gets to return with this stage from the wrong side. It’s a shame that the race doesn’t end in the Alps this year, as it probably would have meant Iséran-Tignes and a better-positioned Grand Bornand stage, but it is what it is.
Map and profile
Route details
The first 17 kilometers are flat, then it’s time for Côte de Domancy, a good excuse for the French to pay hommage to Hinault and a key point for the breakaway.
The road continues to rise into Megève, taking in the final 8.1 kilometers of the profile below.
A descending false flat takes us through the intermediate sprint…
…then backs into the first cat. 1 of the day, Col des Saisies. It consists of 1.1 kilometer at 8.3% followed by the final 13.7 kilometer of the profile below.
Next up is the first HC climb of this year’s edition. Col du Pré is somewhat borderline, but a good climb nonetheless.
To get into the Tarantaise valley, there’s still the final third of Cormet de Roselend to go, from Col de Méraillet at 8 kilometer on the profile below onwards.
Unlike 2007, the ascent to Tignes goes via Les Brévières instead of the dam. This makes for a slightly harder ascent, but it’s still very much train-friendly (edit: yeah, I totally didn't write this pre-Tour). The profile below ends 200 flat meters before the finish line.
Final kilometers
Tunnel city.
Stage 9 (Cluses – Tignes, 144.9 km)
Like in 2007, the first two Alpine stages are Grand-Bornand and Tignes. This makes for a second short(ish) mountain stage in a row, keeping the weekend below 300 kilometers total. As a compensation for the heartbreak that was the 2019 stage cancellation, Tignes gets to return with this stage from the wrong side. It’s a shame that the race doesn’t end in the Alps this year, as it probably would have meant Iséran-Tignes and a better-positioned Grand Bornand stage, but it is what it is.
Map and profile
Route details
The first 17 kilometers are flat, then it’s time for Côte de Domancy, a good excuse for the French to pay hommage to Hinault and a key point for the breakaway.
The road continues to rise into Megève, taking in the final 8.1 kilometers of the profile below.
A descending false flat takes us through the intermediate sprint…
…then backs into the first cat. 1 of the day, Col des Saisies. It consists of 1.1 kilometer at 8.3% followed by the final 13.7 kilometer of the profile below.
Next up is the first HC climb of this year’s edition. Col du Pré is somewhat borderline, but a good climb nonetheless.
To get into the Tarantaise valley, there’s still the final third of Cormet de Roselend to go, from Col de Méraillet at 8 kilometer on the profile below onwards.
Unlike 2007, the ascent to Tignes goes via Les Brévières instead of the dam. This makes for a slightly harder ascent, but it’s still very much train-friendly (edit: yeah, I totally didn't write this pre-Tour). The profile below ends 200 flat meters before the finish line.
Final kilometers
Tunnel city.
Last edited:
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