Ginevra-Nizza tappa 6

La penultima tappa sarà la più corta delle sette con “soli” 78km, ma transiterà sulla strada più alta d’Europa, ai 2802mt della cima della Bonette. Ho affrontato questa salita proprio dal lato di Jausiers nel lontano 2002 in un weekend francese con base a Barcellonette. Da non sottovalutare anche l’arrivo in salita ad Auron.

Focus on Stage 6: Pra Loup - Auron
The start of the 6th stage of the Haute Route 2011 will be in Pra Loup on Friday, 26th August at 08:30. This will be the shortest stage of the week with a little less than 80km in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes departments. The peloton will leave in a secured convoy from Pra Loup to Jausiers. The real start, when timing starts, will be given after 18km at the foot of the Cime de la Bonette, the main difficulty of the day and highest asphalted road in Europe.
You will tackle the ascent of the Cime de la Bonette by its North face from the magnificent Ubaye Valley and the village of Jausiers (1213m). The gradient is never very strong (an average of 6.8% and 9% max) but the ascent is 24km long, irregular and near 8% most of the time. The Cime de la Bonette ascent will be embellished though by the sight of many waterfalls like the Caplouse, and the sound of marmot whistles. The “Cabane Noire“, 2150m high, will be the landmark for the most difficult passage.
Approaching the summit, you will follow on several cols. First the Col de Restefond, 2680m high located near the Caserne de Restefond, then the Col de la Bonette, 2715 m high. You will then continue on the road skirting around the famous Cime de la Bonette where its peak at 2802m high will offer you an exceptional panoramic view of the Queyras, the Pelvoux and the Monte Viso summits all the way to the Mediterranean.
The descent will lead you to Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée, at the 72nd kilometre, at the bottom of the final ascent to Auron. After 6 km of a demanding ascent, you will arrive in the heart of the resort.

Main feature of the 6th stage
- Start in Pra Loup, Friday, 26th August at 08:30
- Arrive in Auron between 11:30 and 13:45
- 78 km overall, 60 km timed
- 2300 metres of ascent / 2300 metres of descent

2 ascents on the menu of stage 6:
- Cime de la Bonette, 2802 metres high, summit 43 km from the start
- Final ascent towards Auron, arrive at 1600m high

What Claude Droussent, journalist and cycling expert, has to say about Stage 6
“Enjoy… if you still can! The Cime de la Bonette , its 25 kilometres of ascent from Jausiers, its 2802 meters high making it the highest road in Europe and the ‘roof’ of the Haute Route is all yours! Especially the breathtaking scenery in an incredible silence in the heart of the Parc du Mercantour. The Galibier is stunning; the Bonette, even more so. A world of its own…
"But you have to work for it. You’ll often face 8-9% slopes but you will also have to be able to ‘recuperate’ on the long sections at 5%. The Bonette showcases irregular slopes. You should expect two hours of ascent, a little bit more if you want to enjoy the surroundings. It is even better than a good performance here. And this way, you can also save some energy because even if there is only 78 kilometres on that day to reach Auron, the final ascent has a 8-9% gradient…”