Distance: 208 km
Climbs: 4
Points for the polka dot jersey: 92
Points for the green jersey: 40
Bonus Points: col du Galibier (bonus points: 8, 5 and 2 seconds to the first three riders classified)
Neutralised start: 11:10
Real start: 11:25
Estimated finish: 16:58 – 17:41
Village opening: 08:15
Embrun
Stage city for the 6th time, chef-lieu de canton of Hautes-Alpes (05), 6 700 inhabitants (Embrunais), 16 300 inhabitants (Communauté de Communes de Serre-Ponçon), 139 000 inhabitants (Hautes-Alpes)
Although the town is especially known for the Embrunman triathlon, in 2013, it was rather a “yellow-man” who won acclaim. By triumphing on the time-trial route between Embrun and Chorges, Chris Froome put even more distance between himself and his rivals to take a definitively firm grip on the crown for the 100th edition of the Tour de France.
Built between 1170 and 1220, the Notre Dame du Réal Cathedral is considered to be the most important religious edifice in the French Alps. Its architecture chiefly draws its inspiration from the Lombardy tradition.
Valloire
Stage city for the 3rd time, common of Savoie (73), 1 200 inhabitants (Valloirins)
Valloire is more renowned for its skiing champions than its elite cyclists, yet it is well-known to the members of the pack, who often pass through on their way up to or down from the Col du Galibier pass. Nevertheless, the Tour de France stopped here in 1972 and 1975 witnessing victories by Eddy Merckx and Vicente López-Carril respectively.
Today, while the Maurienne Valley has produced many downhill skiing champions, the favourite son of Valloire is Jean-Baptiste Grange, the two-time world slalom champion in 2011 and 2015. With a career dotted with injuries like the one suffered this winter in Wengen, “JB” has still not announced whether he will continue skiing at the age of 34 years.
@ASO