Stage 9 Preview - Almost a Queen Stage?
by Willj on Jul 12, 2010 11:56 AM EDT
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Above: 2009 Tour on Col de la Colombière
If the finish was closer to the top of a mountain, and there wasn't Tourmalet (twice!) next week, this might be called the Queen stage of the 2010 Tour.
If looking at Ted's map profile doesn't hurt your legs then you lack "imagination."
Make no mistake, this is a huge day on the bike. After the jump, let's walk through the four principle climbs:
#1 Col de la Colombière
Ascent: 1100 metres @ 6.7% average
This is ranked as the 5th hardest climb of the Tour in our climb rankings here.
Colombe means dove, but there is nothing peaceful about this climb.
The Tour first crossed over Col de la Colombière in 1960, and it has appeared approximately 20 times, most recently in 2009. The average grade can be misleading as there is a flattish stretch through the village of Reposoir. The final two kilometres are exceedingly steep – and it seems to me – always against the wind.
For the sightseers: At Reposoir is a beautiful Abbey: Chartreuse de Reposoir (photo here).
In 2009, the Brothers Schleck and Contador were all alone as they approached the summit.
No videos today, but I did make a video descending both sides of Colombiere earlier in the year. If interested see here.
#2 Col des Aravis
Ascent: 450 metres @ 5.9% average
This is the easiest of the day’s climbs (19th hardest in the Tour).
First crossed by the Tour in 1911, this historic pass has been in the Tour approximately 40 times. While the list of legends going first over Aravis is long, perhaps the most famous was in 1948, when Gino Bartali dropped Louison Bobet on these slopes going on to win the Tour.
For the sightseers: At the top of the Pass is the cute little chapelle de Sainte Anne – patron saint of voyagers – dating from the 17th century (photo here).
This is Reblochon cheese country, and has been since the 12th century! And if you need a cow pelt, they sell them at the top (booo!).
#3 Col des Saisies
Ascent: 735 metres @ 5.1% average
Saisies is a medium size ski station above the very quaint village of Beaufort (mmmm: beaufort cheese), with great views of Mont Blanc. This is the 16th hardest climb in the 2010 Tour.
It first appeared in the Tour in 1979 and has appeared several times, often as a link to Cormet de Roselend. This is the classic north side, but there are at least 8 interesting ways up this Col – this is great cycling country.
For the sightseers: At the top is an American-French monument commemorating an American paratrooper that died during one of the largest weapons drops in WW2 to the French resistance (photo below).
#4 Col de la Madeleine
Ascent: 1580 metres @ 6.2% average
This is a giant climb. The biggest ascent of any climb in the 2010 Tour and the second hardest after Tourmalet (although that’s debatable).
Madeleine first appeared in the Tour in 1969. It is one of only two roads that cross the Vanoise Alps (far away Col de l’Iseran is the other). Every year, the inhabitants of each side of the pass meet in July for a festival to celebrate the relinking of their villages after 7 or 8 months of separation due to snow.
Don’t let the average grade fool you, there are long steep stretches on this climb. The ever changing gradient makes it difficult to get a rythym, and perhaps makes it ideal for an attack by a pure climber.
The descent is worth noting too. As they race to the finish line, they will have to navigate 40 hairpins – not easy.
Col de la Madeleine was called la Colombe until the 18th century. But was renamed after a little chapelle was built and dedicated to Saint Madeleine.
And don’t forget, if you go to watch the stage on Madeleine – they sell great pie at the top.
Enjoy the stage!
PS - The Col sign over my shoulder claims an altitude of 2,000 metres - but it's only 1,993 metres. Marketing.
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Those green bits on the Saisies...you know, I could absolutely crush those ;)
Really excited for this one, having been to the area last year….I’ve only ridden up the Colombiere from the ‘wrong’ side as we were parked down towards Le Grand Bornand, and I did not envy those poor blighters struggling up the final few kms of the other side while I was sitting eating my lunch (in the rain). The Aravis I have never seen in daylight…we rather foolishly drove over it at about 2am in a large camper in order to get to the Colombiere from Bourg St Maurice. We could hardly even see the edges of the road. I was scared. I hate the fact that I have to work tomorrow. If the recorder malfunctions (again) I will weep.
Nice marmotte
I agree - if someone could just piggy back me up all the red and yellow bits, I'd own that mountain...
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 12, 2010 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Is the neighboring town "Notgonnagetany"?
Would love to see that on a map…
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 12, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't get it
Why would that be funny?
by Forstoppelse on Jul 12, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Will, thanks for sharing this.
The Madeleine looks brutal. The pie looks great…Is that your Belgium domestique with you in the shot?
now sock-less and carefree.
nope
this is an Ozzy friend that makes me stop for cake, or pie or donuts on every ride
My domestique is somewhere in the very first photo in the crowd I believe
moo
'Makes' you stop for cake? You need encouragement?!
What is the marmotte population like in these parts? This we really need to know.
Nice marmotte
I was gonna say the same thing - love the "makes me stop" part...
You look pretty pissed off to have to eat that pie! :)
now sock-less and carefree.
by JustJoshinYa on Jul 12, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Excellent news.
I suppose they will all be in their burrows, or watching from afar with little binoculars though…
Nice marmotte
great post Will
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
also
i say we have some gc attacks and more thinning of the contenders on this stage, despite the descent at the end
Every Willj post with pictures
makes me salivate over next year’s vacation. So jealous.
What is it like riding the Madeleine?
I found it very, very hard.
It was a fun day, as my friend the “domestique” was taking photographs for one of the first times and he had all sorts of classic shots :)
moo
Madeleine
If you look at Ted’s map, you’ll see lots of long straightish parts. But they are often steep. It makes it harder and less satisfying than climbing hairpins because it if often much steeper than it looks. Discouraging.
Apart from a village about half way up it’s a pretty remote, forested valley/climb. I think it’s prettier (and certainly quieter traffic-wise) than the south side, which has a big ski station – St-Francois Longchamps near the top.
It’s not my favourite climb, but it’s certainly one of the hardest.
moo
I only know the south side
which is the most even major climb I know, 8% all the way, very restful.
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
FYI,
there’s a fabulous alternate way up the South via Col du Chaussy (of Lacets de Montvernier fame) then some long non-paved sections up high.
moo
Funny, I stayed in La Chambre about 5 times and never discovered that route
(nor did we actively seek out such adventurous routes, I admit). It appears there is also a balcony route clockwise around Col du Chaussy at about 1200 m. Probably quite scenic.
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
the Lacets
start from the national route only a few kms from La Chambre – I started in La Chambre. But even when you are staring at it from the autoroute, it’s really, really hard to see – it’s just built into the cliffs.
Yes, there are a couple of ways up Chaussy – the non Montvernier side is not paved at the top though.
moo
Understood
We have a dead straight, open local road of 4.2 km @ 6 percent. Little change in gradation, no super steep parts. Went up and down it four times Saturday after the stage.
The thing is, without any bends it almost looks like a long false flat, six percent looks like four. I keep thinking I should be able to do it in the big ring — and I can, once or twice. But god it’s painful. And boring.
And no Madeleine scenery.
by Mr 60 Percent on Jul 12, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
There is a long history of people at the Cafe using, um, colorful language to convey to Will how much we all want to trade lives with him, at least for a summer.
"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 12, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Indeed
most people despise the alpine and cross-country skiing he is forced to endure in the winter. Many a time have I looked at the pictures of him on a sunny ski-slope with a beer in hand, thinking “I wouldn’t want to be in that sorry fuck’s shoes”
but dang purty
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Do you need any more encouragement to keep this great previews coming?
Probably not, right? But to be on the safe side.. Holdenmate sprinkles an ounce of encouragement over Willj.
I appreciate that
I was worried I was overdoing it a bit. I promised Gavia two more previews later on.
moo
what she said
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
That is a nice thought,
but I’m afraid I’ve overdone it in the mountains on a number of occasions. It ain’t pretty or very fun.
Vlaanderens Mooiste
Which is why people like Willj are so remarkable..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
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