Ginevra-Nizza tappa 4

Per riposare dopo il “tappone” e i primi tre giorni della settimana, una bella prova crono in salita di 12km al Col du Granon, che non è molto noto al grande pubblico, ma è stato il più alto arrivo in quota del Tour con i suoi 2413mt (1986), e qualche anno fa era anche percorso nella GFondo Luc Alphand.

Focus on … Stage 4
Stage 4 of the Haute Route will be a major first for cyclosportives. On Wednesday 24th August, you will participate in an intense individual time trial that includes the dry ascent of the Col du Granon from Serre Chevalier, precisely from the Saint-Chaffrey village.
This individual time trial is a 12km ascent with the aim to reach the Granon, 2413 metres high, a very demanding col less known than its famous neighbours, the Galibier and the Izoard, but nonetheless fastidious. It will be a fierce start from kilometre one with a 10% slope. The softer part of the ascent comes next until kilometre six that cannot be negotiated at less than 8%! At the “Tronchets“, the slope goes back to 10% and keep increasing to 11% in the next kilometre at “Plainalp”. The last 500 metres, slightly easier (6.5%) will allow you to arrive fresh faced for the final picture!
To respect the timing, the starts of the time trial will be given individually or by mini-groups of 2 to 3 riders. Detailed information will be published on our website a few weeks before the event. The descent on the same side because the Granon is a dead-end will be organised by groups of 100 to 150 riders in secured convoy, and starts will be managed so that no riders cross paths.
All riders will meet up after the time trial at the Haute Route race village (where you can find results, entertainment, pasta party, etc…) in La Salle-les-Alpes at the same place as the day before.

Main feature of Stage 4
• Start from Saint-Chaffrey on Wednesday, 24th August from 08:30
• First arrivals at the Col du Granon summit from 09:30
• 12 timed kilometres
• 1’200 metres of ascent

What Claude Droussent, journalist and cycling expert, has to say about Stage 4
“Isn’t this a funny idea, this time trial on the Granon roads, unknown col leading nowhere except 2413 meters high, facing the magnificent barrier of the Ecrins? My advice: warm up, for example whilst going up to the Lautaret! Because the Granon, where the pros went through (and arrived as it’s a dead-end) only once in 1986 with a Lemmond-Zimmermann duel, is a tough one right from the bottom and exit of Saint-Chaffrey. So 12 kilometres only on the menu, but 11 with hellish gradients, rarely below 8% with bits at 11-12%. On this fourth day and with what’s been served the day before, respect to those who will take less than an hour to get to the top.”