Full results and insights (Image credit: @ ASO and https://www.criterium-du-dauphine.fr/fr )
Sunday 11 June – Stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix > La Bastille – Grenoble Alpes Métropole (152.8 km)
Jonas Vingegaard wins Critérium du Dauphiné proving to be ready forTour, Giulio Ciccone wins final stage
Spectacular finish for the Tour of the Dauphiné 2023. On the brutal slopes towards the Bastille in Grenoble, victory went to Italian Giulio Ciccone. The Abruzzese rider thus continued his excellent season by taking a new success, which in some ways increases his regrets for not participating in the Giro d’Italia. Jonas Vingegaard finished behind him and comfortably took the general classification.
In a breakaway from afar, Ciccone managed to crush the resistance of his fellow adventurers, taking off wheel after wheel, the likes of Tiesj Benoot and Julian Alaphilippe. Behind, it was Team UAE who set the pace to try to catch up and launch an attack by Adam Yates, but at the foot of the final climb Ciccone still had a 50-second lead.
Tough slopes in the final 1800 metres, constantly above 15%, with peaks as high as 24%. Yates tried but was once again distanced by Jonas Vingegaard, who launched himself in pursuit of the Italian. The Dane managed to get closer, but never managed to bring the gap under 20 seconds. Giulio Ciccone looked over his shoulder and saw no one, and was therefore able to cross the finish line with his arms raised. 23″ was the gap to Vingegaard, who again set the tone for the Tour de France. The strongest is once again him, who therefore wins the general classification with a huge lead of 2’23” over Adam Yates, and 2’56” over Ben O’Connor, who finished fourth today, right behind the Briton. Full results here
The Dauphiné comes to a close with an intense stage on historic French cycling roads, dusting off the spectacular finish at La Bastille in Grenoble. It’s a stage that offers no respite and has very few dead points, so it’s perfect to mix it up and overturn the classification. It starts practically uphill with the Côte de Pinet (6.3km at 6.1%), followed by over 30km of up and down in between which the Col des Mouilles (3.9km at 7%) stands out. This is followed by a long descent and the easy 8km climb to Allevard (average 3.6%, first 4km at 5.5%). This is where the only breathing space is encountered, about 20 km of valley floor in favour leading to the grand finale, introduced by about 2.5 km of climbing at 4% to Barraux. At this point, the so-called ‘Chartreuse Triology’, formed by Granier, Cucheron and Porte, is covered in its entirety. The Col du Granier is undoubtedly the toughest of the three, being a steep climb of 9.6km at 8.6% with long stretches in double figures (last 4km at 10.1%); being less than 50km from the finish, which is also devoid of any flat terrain, it is a springboard for those who want to attack from afar. Seamlessly up the Col du Cucheron, 7.7 km at 6.2% with a pedalable central section that distorts the average gradient (the last 2.5 km are at 8.3%). With 4.5 km of steep and treacherous descent you soon arrive at the foot of the Col de Porte, a 7.4 km climb at 6.8%. At this point it’s down to Grenoble with a 15km dive, fast in the first part, more technical in the last, before the final surge up the Bastille (1.8km at 14.2%) where we’ll know who will have won this Tour of the Dauphiné.
The traditional preparation event ahead of the Grande Boucle maintains the pattern of recent editions, with a first block of varied stages and a final triptych in the Alps, combined with a time trial in the middle of the race. Surprisingly, the time trial is over 30 kilometres, a remarkable length for an eight-stage race, significantly longer than the Tour de France time trial that will take place in a few weeks. There are many beautiful mountain fractions, including great classics and welcome returns.
Sunday 4 June – Stage 1: Chambon-sur-Lac – Chambon-sur-Lac (157.7 km)
Christophe Laporte won the first stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné by anticipating Matteo Trentin.
The 75th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné opened in the sign of Christophe Laporte and Jumbo Visma. The 30-year-old Frenchman won the first stage of the French race by anticipating Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) and Rune Herregodts on the finish line of Chambon-sur-Lac. The 24-year-old Belgian of Intermarché – Circus – Wanty Herregodts was caught by the group a few metres before the finish line, and he was the real star of the day and crowned a day in the breakaway with the podium.
After 8 kilometres from the start it was the French Donavan Grondin (Team Arkéa Samsic) and Dorian Godon (AG2R Citroën Team) who escaped from the bunch, along with the Belgians Brent Van Moer (Lotto Dstny), Fabio Van den Bossche (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Rune Herregodts (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty). The five attackers, pedalling at a great pace, reached a maximum advantage of close to three minutes over the main group.
Among the attackers, Donavan Grondin (Team Arkéa Samsic) was particularly dynamic, as he sprinted ahead of everyone on the Côte du Mont-Dore GPM, but also on the one at the top of the Côte de la Stele and on the first of three passages on the Côte du Rocher de l’Aigle.
With forty kilometres to go, the breakaway group broke up and it was Van Moer, Godon and Herregodts who led the race, with Herregodts being the first to pass on the second passage of the Côte du Rocher de l’Aigle.
During the last lap of the local circuit Van Moer lost ground from the breakaway, the strong group came closer and closer, catching Godon as well and putting Herregodts in their sights. Herregodts, however, fearless, was the first to break away on the last Cote of the day and ‘threw himself’ downhill, challenging the group and the pursuing Jumbo Visma.
The final sprint proved Laporte right, and he celebrated his third victory of the season in just nine days of racing, in addition to winning his first leader’s jersey, with which he will start tomorrow from Brassac-les-Mines to tackle the second stage of the Tour of Dauphiné.
Ethan Hayter, on the other hand, will not be at the start tomorrow: the Briton of INEOS Grenadiers, who was involved in a crash in the first hundred kilometres of the race, had to retire and like him also Antwan Tolhoek of (Trek – Segafredo) and Hugo Page (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty). Full Results here
It starts immediately with a very nervous stage, almost entirely without flat terrain, but also without particularly tough climbs. A difficult day to control where anything could happen, including the first skirmishes of the big boys. We are in the middle of the Massif Central, around the Puy de Sancy, but we avoid all the main climbs in the area, making up a route made up of continuous ups and downs. The key point is the final circuit to be repeated three times, which includes an initial climb of around 5 km at 5%, followed by over 5 km of ups and downs culminating in the Côte du Rocher de l’Aigle (1 km at 7.3%). From the summit there are 11km to go, much of it downhill, while the finish is a slight climb.
Monday 5 June – Stage 2: Brassac-les-Mines – La Chaise-Dieu (167.3km)
Julian Alaphilippe sprinted to victory in the second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné with an overwhelming sprint
Julian Alaphilippe returned to victory, totally dominating the sprint and returning to success after more than three months of fasting. For the Frenchman, excellent signs in view of the Tour de France, where a perfect course awaits him on the first stage to win the first yellow jersey of the Boucle. The Frenchman won the second stage of the Tour du Dauphiné, finishing in La Chaise-Dieu: his second success of the season after the one in February at the Faun-Ardèche Classic. Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) remains leader of the general classification.
Seven riders formed the breakaway of the day: Nans Peters (AG2R Citroën Team), Andrea Piccolo (EF Education-EasyPost), Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo), Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny), Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies), Donavan Grondin (Arkéa-Samsic).
The peloton, given the risks taken yesterday, did not want to leave too much space to the attackers, limiting the margin to under 2′. In the final big acceleration for the peloton and the last to be caught were Campenaerts and Elissonde in view of the GPM of Côte des Guêtes. Tobias Bayer (Alpecin-Deceuninck) counter-attacked.
With four kilometres to go the Austrian was caught and there were more attacks but Jumbo-Visma, thanks in part to Jonas Vingegaard, was perfect in preparing for the sprint. Coming out of the sprint however was a super Julian Alaphilippe who dominated ahead of Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Natnael Tesfatsion (Trek-Segafredo), while Laporte was only fourth.
Another tricky stage, with an arrival at altitude, although not marked by GPMs. The basic philosophy is the same as the previous stage, but the climbs are a little harder, especially in terms of gradients. The first 90 kilometres leading to the final circuit are already dotted with quite significant climbs, including the two GPMs of the Col de la Toutée (2.2 km at 6%) and the Col des Fourches (2.7 km at 6.5%). Then it’s up to the finish at La Chaise-Dieu and then two complete laps of the final circuit: it’s fairly straightforward in its first half, reaching Saint-Paul-de-Senouire via falsopiano and descent on smooth roads; at this point the road becomes more twisty and soon you face the short but intense Côte de Guetes (officially 1km at 8%, but slightly longer) just 9.7km from the finish. At about 6 km from the finish, another climb of about 600 metres at 6% is overcome and immediately afterwards the last climb of 4.8 km at an average of 3.1% begins: after the first tougher section (just over 1 km at 6%) the road becomes little more than a falsopiano and climbs more noticeably in the last 1500 metres (average 3.5%). It is not a terrible stage, but the men in the rankings may already be moving.
Tuesday 6 June – Stage 3: Monistrol-sur-Loire – Le Coteau (191.3km)
CHRISTOPHE LAPORTE ENCORE IN LE COTEAU
Another success for Christophe Laporte at the Tour of Dauphiné. The transalpine rider of Jumbo-Visma strengthened his yellow jersey at the Tour of Dauphiné by winning the Manistral-sur-Loire – Le Coteau, third stage, beating Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla); a little bit of recrimination for the Dutchman, who was penalised in the sprint by Bennett who deviate from his line. Fourth place for Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates).
Early stages of the race characterised by the escape attempt of Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergie) and Lorenzo Milesi (Team DSM). After just 15 kilometres, the Italian got back up, leaving the limelight to the Frenchman, who reached 5’40”, before getting back up after about 70 kilometres and being reabsorbed by the group.
From there, it became a long wait for the final sprint. But the excitement comes anyway, albeit for external reasons. At just over 100 kilometres from the finish, the peloton is forced to proceed at a reduced pace and in a single lane to overtake some protesters on the asphalt, while after the flying finish of Sainte Foy, won by the yellow jersey Laporte, there is a fall at the back of the peloton, which also involves Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) who gets up without consequences.
They proceeded in close ranks also on the Cote de Pinay, a climb too soft to really make a selection: it was therefore a sprint. The last 1500 metres were characterised by two crashes, but fortunately without too many consequences; Bora-Hansgrohe set up a great train for Sam Bennett who was however burnt by the yellow jersey and cut off Groenewegen in a sudden manner. Full results here
The third stage, although rather long, is the only one simple enough to allow a bunch sprint finish. In fact, after the first 100 km with the climb to Bellevue-la-Montagne (4.9 km at 5.8%), the route is almost flat for 60 km. The Côte de Neulise, a fairly long but very rideable climb (7.5 km at 3%) that should not cause much of a stir in the finale. The summit is still 18.5 km away. After the end of the descent and a couple of sprints, we arrive at the last 6 km completely flat in which to organise the eventual sprint.
Wednesday 7 June – Stage 4: Cours – Belmont-de-la-Loire (31.1km – Individual time trial)
DOUBLE STRIKE FOR MIKKEL BJERG, THE DANE WINS THE TIME TRIAL AND TAKES THE YELLOW JERSEY
Denmark will dominate the fourth stage of the Tour of Dauphiné 2023. Individual time trial: Cours-Belmont-de-la-Loire of 31.1 kilometres. The winner was Mikkel Bjerg who grabbed the first victory of his career as a professional, beating his compatriot Jonas Vingegaard.
Time of 37’28” at an impressive average of 49.804 km/h for the Dane of the UAE Emirates, who was excellent especially in the second half. A more than deserved success for the three-time under-23 world champion: today’s victory is also worth the Yellow Jersey as leader of the general classification.
As mentioned, second place for another Dane, the eagerly awaited Vingegaard: the winner of the last Tour de France is going strong and finishes only 12 seconds behind his compatriot, already sending out a great signal both for this race and for the Grande Boucle. Third was Remi Cavagna (Soudal-QuickStep) at 27″.
The only ones keeping up with Vingegaard in terms of the general classification were Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroen), fifth at 41″ from the summit (29″ from the Jumbo-Visma man) and Adam Yates (UAE Emirates) eighth at 57″. Full results here
Unbelievable but true, the Dauphiné time trial is much longer than the Tour time trial and more suitable for specialists. The route is still rough and twisty, but the uphill sections are rideable and therefore favourable to specialists. Particularly noteworthy are the more than 2 km of climbing at 4/5% at the start to the Col de la Croix Couverte and the last 9 km, almost entirely on a slight incline (average 2%, sections at 4/5%).
Thursday 8 June – Stage 5: Cormoranche-sur-Saône – Salins-les-Bains (191.1km)
JONAS VINGEGAARD WINS IN SALINS-DES-BAINS AND WEARS YELLOW
The Dane Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma took home the fifth stage, the 191-kilometre Cormoranche-sur-Saône-Salins-les-Bain, outsprinting everyone on the final climb and arriving solo. For the winner of the last Tour de France there is also the yellow jersey, as Mikkel Bjerg loses contact in the finale and leaves the leadership to his compatriot.
The first part of the race was characterised by the breakaway of six riders, Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe), Edvald Boasson-Hagen (TotalEnergies), Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché Wanty-Gobert), Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Dstny) and Leon Heinschke (Team DSM). The six of them hit it off and were almost four minutes ahead on the first climb, the Cote de Chateau-Chalon (4.4km at 4.5%), with Politt also becoming the virtual yellow jersey.
However, the peloton does not want to leave too much space for the six attackers, with the classification men already looking to do battle. And on the Cote de Thésy, 3.6 km at 8.8%, the breakaway only had a margin of 20 seconds. Bagioli lit the fuse, taking Alaphilippe with him, but then it was Carapaz who made a real attack, with the Frenchman and Vingegaard right behind him, while leader Bjerg was pulling back along with Gaudu and Martinez.
And just before the top of the climb, the Dane put the gears in high gear and pulled away from everyone, leaving and, after a long descent, arriving alone at the finish line. Group of chasers at 31″, ruled by Alaphilippe on Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X); good signals from Giulio Ciccone and Egan Bernal, who arrive with the best appearing in excellent condition. Carapaz lost 45″, Gaudu 1’02”. Full results here
We’re not in the mountains yet, but the men in the rankings may already be back in the clear, considering the particularly tricky finale. After some 90 flat kilometres, the first bumps (including the Côte de Châteaux-Chalon) are overcome to cross the finish line for the first time. Then begins a long circuit with the Côte d’Ivory (2.3 km at 5.9%) and above all the demanding Côte de Thésy, 3.6 km at an average of 8.9%, with long sections in double figures in the first 2 km. The climb is undoubtedly demanding and ends just 14.4 km from the finish; the road remains falsely flat for a few kilometres, then after an initial downhill section, a final counter slope of almost a kilometre is overcome when there are about 6.5 km to go. The finish is at the end of the descent.
Friday 9 June – Stage 6: Nantua – Crest-Voland (168.2km)
Zimmermann won the sixth stage ahead of two breakaway companions Burgadeau and Castroviejo
The breakaway came in the sixth stage of the Tour of Dauphiné 2023. On the finish line of Crest-Voland the German Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) won his second victory as a professional, certainly the most important of his career. No worries for Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) who easily retains the Yellow Jersey as leader of the general classification.
A leading group of men took a small gap in the early stages of the race: Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Andrea Bagioli, Dries Devenyes (Soudal-QuickStep), Nans Peters (AG2R Citroen), Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos-Grenadiers), Andrey Amador (EF Education-Easypost), Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar), Axel Zingle (Cofidis), Lawson Craddock (Jayco-AlUla), Mathieu Burgaudeau, Matteo Vercher, Alexis Vuillermoz (TotalEnergies) and Simon Guglielmi (Arkea-Samsic).
The group stayed at a controlled distance (just over 2′ at most), but there was not the acceleration that was expected from the peloton and the escapees managed to stay ahead for a long time. On the penultimate climb, the Col des Aravis, Zimmermann, Castroviejo and Burgaudeau were able to take advantage.
The three managed the small margin and played for the success: Zimmermann in the last 2 kilometres anticipated, Burgaudeau came back under with 500 metres to go, but the German mocked him in the narrow sprint with Castroviejo third. The peloton was then ruled by Italian Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo). Full results here
First alpine taste with which the final triptych destined to decide the general classification opens. The stage concentrates attention mainly in the finale, after an eventful first part that should not create too much confusion in which the Côte de Droisy (5.4 km at 7%), the first GPM of the day, emerges. The best part comes in the last 50 km, with the climb to the Col des Aravis, much longer than the 7.8 km formally marked: the road begins to climb when there are 29 km to the GPM, for an overall average of 3.5%; there is a first section of over 5 km at 4/5%, then 11 km of false-flat; the road climbs noticeably (5%) for a couple of km to Saint-Jean de Sixt, where almost 3 km at 3% lead to the formal start of the climb, corresponding to the most demanding section. These are not transcendental gradients, which is why a large group may still arrive at the summit. The final ramps remain to decide the fate of this stage and move the race along: after a non-trivial descent the riders arrive at Flumet, where they take the road to the Col des Saisies, which however will not be reached; they climb first to Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe (3.2 km at 6.1%) then, after just one km of descent, to the finish at Crest-Voland (2.3 km at 6.6%, with around 1500 metres at 8/9%).
Saturday 10 June – Stage 7: Porte-de-Savoie – Col de la Croix de Fer (147.7km)
Vingegaard wins on the Croix de Fer by dominating the queen stage of the Dauphiné
Jonas Vingegaard conquered the queen stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2023, with the summit finish at the Col de la Croix de Fer, and put his seal on the overall victory of the French stage race, giving yet another demonstration of superiority over all rivals.
The seventh stage of the Tour of Dauphiné 2023, from Porte-de-Savoie to the Col de la Croix de Fer (147.7 km), included three grand prix mountains, with almost 50 kilometres of climbing in the last 100 km of the race. First came the Col de la Madeleine (25.1km at 6.2%, hors catégorie) with the finish line at 72.5km to go, followed by the decisive final couplet: Col du Mollard (18.5km at 5.8%, HC) and the final ascent to the finish (13.1km at 6.2%, first category).
The breakaway started after twenty kilometres of the race: the four outriders were Anthony Perez (Cofidis), Rémi Cavagna (Soudal Quick-Step), Madis Mihkels (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) and the first part of the stage was covered at a very high speed of 50.7 km/h.
The breakaway had a maximum advantage of almost six minutes at the start of the climb to the Col de la Madeleine. With less than 5 kilometres to go to the summit Campenaerts left the company and remained alone in the lead, crossing the mountain pass ahead of Perez, with the peloton at 2’05”.
The peloton, led by the men of Jumbo-Visma, left no space and all the escapees were reeled in before the Col du Mollard, except for Victor Campenaerts, who also passed the second GPM of the day and was caught by the peloton at the start of the final ascent to the Col de la Croix de Fer, 12.3 km from the finish. The pace of the Jumbo increased and under the impetus of Dylan van Baarle and then Tiesj Benoot and Attila Valter, the attack of Jonas Vingegaard was prepared and he did in fact attack with 5.5km to go. Adam Yates (UAE Emirates) even though he was in his wake did not even try to follow and the Danish star immediately made the gap.
Vingegaard crossed the finish line in the rain, taking his second stage victory in this Dauphiné, with 41″ on Yates and 53″ on Jay Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), recovering in the finale. Fourth at 1’04” Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën), who lost his second place in the classification, overtaken by Yates. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) lost ground again today and finished 2’10” behind, with Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) even further back. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) and Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) collapsed, who had pulled away even before Valter’s forcing and came in 3’01” and 5’46” behind the winner respectively. Full results here
It is time for the queen stage, with an unprecedented finish at the summit of the Croix de Fer, after two other famous climbs such as the Madeleine and the Mollard. After about 50 km of flat terrain, we climb the fearsome Col de la Madeleine from the northern slope, the longest and most irregular, measured at 25.1 km at 6.2%: a few pedalable sections break the climb into three steps with bad gradients, respectively 7.5 km at 7.1%, 7 km at 7.8% and 4 at 8.5%. This is followed by the long, fast descent to La Chambre, from which, with about fifteen easy kilometres (with the exception of the climb in the centre of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne), you arrive at the foot of the last two climbs in quick succession. First up to the Col du Mollard (18.5 km at 5.8%, with the first 12 km at 6.7% and a couple of steep stretches close to the GPM) then, after 6 km of technical descent, immediately to the Col de la Croix de Fer, of which the last 13.1 km are covered at 6.2%: of particular note is the final stretch of almost 7 km at 8.2%, as well as the altitude of the finish line at over 2000 metres. Here one can really make a difference.
Sunday 11 June – Stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix > La Bastille – Grenoble Alpes Métropole (152.8 km)
Jonas Vingegaard wins Critérium du Dauphiné proving to be ready forTour, Giulio Ciccone wins final stage
Spectacular finish for the Tour of the Dauphiné 2023. On the brutal slopes towards the Bastille in Grenoble, victory went to Italian Giulio Ciccone. The Abruzzese rider thus continued his excellent season by taking a new success, which in some ways increases his regrets for not participating in the Giro d’Italia. Jonas Vingegaard finished behind him and comfortably took the general classification.
In a breakaway from afar, Ciccone managed to crush the resistance of his fellow adventurers, taking off wheel after wheel, the likes of Tiesj Benoot and Julian Alaphilippe. Behind, it was Team UAE who set the pace to try to catch up and launch an attack by Adam Yates, but at the foot of the final climb Ciccone still had a 50-second lead.
Tough slopes in the final 1800 metres, constantly above 15%, with peaks as high as 24%. Yates tried but was once again distanced by Jonas Vingegaard, who launched himself in pursuit of the Italian. The Dane managed to get closer, but never managed to bring the gap under 20 seconds. Giulio Ciccone looked over his shoulder and saw no one, and was therefore able to cross the finish line with his arms raised. 23″ was the gap to Vingegaard, who again set the tone for the Tour de France. The strongest is once again him, who therefore wins the general classification with a huge lead of 2’23” over Adam Yates, and 2’56” over Ben O’Connor, who finished fourth today, right behind the Briton. Full results here
The Dauphiné comes to a close with an intense stage on historic French cycling roads, dusting off the spectacular finish at La Bastille in Grenoble. It’s a stage that offers no respite and has very few dead points, so it’s perfect to mix it up and overturn the classification. It starts practically uphill with the Côte de Pinet (6.3km at 6.1%), followed by over 30km of up and down in between which the Col des Mouilles (3.9km at 7%) stands out. This is followed by a long descent and the easy 8km climb to Allevard (average 3.6%, first 4km at 5.5%). This is where the only breathing space is encountered, about 20 km of valley floor in favour leading to the grand finale, introduced by about 2.5 km of climbing at 4% to Barraux. At this point, the so-called ‘Chartreuse Triology’, formed by Granier, Cucheron and Porte, is covered in its entirety. The Col du Granier is undoubtedly the toughest of the three, being a steep climb of 9.6km at 8.6% with long stretches in double figures (last 4km at 10.1%); being less than 50km from the finish, which is also devoid of any flat terrain, it is a springboard for those who want to attack from afar. Seamlessly up the Col du Cucheron, 7.7 km at 6.2% with a pedalable central section that distorts the average gradient (the last 2.5 km are at 8.3%). With 4.5 km of steep and treacherous descent you soon arrive at the foot of the Col de Porte, a 7.4 km climb at 6.8%. At this point it’s down to Grenoble with a 15km dive, fast in the first part, more technical in the last, before the final surge up the Bastille (1.8km at 14.2%) where we’ll know who will have won this Tour of the Dauphiné.