Ginevra-Nizza tappa 5

Dopo due notti a Serre Chevalier riprende la strada verso il mare. Per quanto riguarda la mia esperienza di gare a tappe (Giro Dolomiti e Giro di Sardegna) ho sempre sofferto particolarmente la quinta giornata. Anche se per tipologia di gara (difficili come questa non ne ho mai fatte) credo che giunti a questo punto, ogni giorno sarà impegnativo. Si affrontano due salite che non necessitano di presentazioni: Izoard e Vars, e queste sono strade note, avendo percorso parte della tappa (anche se in senso inverso) lo scorso agosto. Inedito invece l’arrivo in salita a Pra Loup.

Focus on… the Stage 5
The 5th stage of the Haute Route 2011 will leave Serre Chevalier (La Salle les Alpes) on Thursday 25th August at 07:30 for the second longest stage of the week, 119km in the Hautes-Alpes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. You will leave as a secured convoy and the timing will start at the foot of the Col d’Izoard, in the heart of Briançon after 7 kilometres.
The Col d’Izoard will be the challenge at the beginning of this stage, a long (20km) and difficult ascent on the North-West of the Massif du Queyras, culminating at 2361 metres. The slope is irregular in the first part of the col, with percentages close to 6% on the first three kilometres followed by a “flat” section on the same distance. The slope increases by approaching Cervières. From the magnificent hamlet of Le Laus, the road climbs up in loops in the pine trees forest with percentages flirting with 8% for about ten kilometres. From the Refuge Napoleon, one kilometre from the summit, you will enter in the typical rocky setting of Izoard.
The descent is conducted on the Queyras side, the riders will cross the famous Casse Deserte before riding along the Guil river and arriving in Guillestre at the bottom of the Col de Vars. Located at the limit between the Hautes-Alpes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, opened since 1890, the col reaches 2109 metres in altitude. The finish of the stage will lead you to Barcelonnette before tackling the final ascent (7km) towards Pra Loup. The arrival will be in the heart of the station in an open-sky village for a well-deserved rest.

Main feature of Stage 5:
• Start from Serre Chevalier, Thursday 25th August at 07:30
• Arrival in Pra Loup, between 12:00 and 15:45
• 119 km overall, 112 km timed
• 2800 metres ascent / 2400 metres descent

3 ascents on the menu of the Serre Chevalier - Pra Loup stage:
• Col d’Izoard, 2361 metres high, summit 28 km from the start
• Col de Vars, 2109 metres high, summit 78 km from the start
• Arrival in altitude in Pra Loup, 1598 metres high

What Claude Droussent, journalist and cycling expert, has to say about Stage 5
“Here again, a monster after Briançon, but broached by its “cool” side. However… it is the Izoard by its North side, so it won’t be the famous Casse Deserte that you will tackle in the descent. But a long ascent (20 kilometres) in the pine trees, difficult in its second bit after Cervières. Along the last nine kilometres up to 2361 meters high, it never goes below 8-9%, especially near the Refuge Napoleon…
“It will be the same for the Col de Vars culminating at 2109 metres. But here, it’s the bottom that is very difficult, after Guillestre. A long ascent with 18 kilometres. The 8 kilometres of the final ascent of Pra Loup after Barcelonnette won’t be so simple. Remember Eddy Merckx’s lapse in 1975, and Bernard Thévenet’s glorious day… After the Galibier’s day, it will be the second harshest day of the week”.