They just announced the route for the 2008 Dauphinée Libéré and the course looks fantastic. This means it has lots of climbs.
The race will take place from June 8th to June 15th and is used by many teams as a major warm-up before the Tour de France.
The official official race site is here.
The final four days are full of climbs – this will be an exciting and challenging race – featuring legendary climbs like Col de Joux Plane and Col de la Croix de Fer.
But for me, the most exciting part is that stage four will feature the climb behind my house. Up to the Col de la Croisette.
Yes, the Dauphinée will climb Le Salève up the super steep route from Collonge-Sous-Salève. It is rated category one but features 4 kilometres averaging 12% – with a full kilometre averaging 13%. This is steep! Legendary climbs like Alpe d’Huez or Galibier don’t have anything even remotely as steep as this. It will be painful and exciting.
Le Salève is the Massif overlooking the South-west side of Geneva. There are numerous ways to cycle this mountain, but the Dauphinée has picked the toughest – by far. Up top there are thrilling views of Geneva and the lake on one side and the entire French Alps on the other.
If you like hairpins then enjoy:
TRIVIA: Le Salève was mentioned several times in Chapter 7 of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein:
“It was echoed from Saleve, the Juras, and the Alps of Savoy; vivid flashes of lightning dazzled my eyes, illuminating the lake, making it appear like a vast sheet of fire.”
“I thought of pursuing the devil; but it would have been in vain, for another flash discovered him to me hanging among the rocks of the nearly perpendicular ascent of Mont Saleve … ”
“Who could arrest a creature capable of scaling the overhanging sides of Mont Saleve?”
7 Comments
Thanks for the great photos. The middle section of the Col de la Croisette looks severe and 4km at 12% doesn’t like too much fun either. I wonder if any of them will ride a triple 🙂
As soon as I saw that picture Will… I thought… there are a lot of hairpins in the alps but I know I’ve seen this before in Will’s blog on one of his rides… actually I’ve seen it snow covered and without. And it’s in your backyard? That’s just sick… (in a great way)!
I don’t live near Salève but that day will be very exciting for me too. It will be a great stage and we’ll probably discover the better cyclist of the race in that wonderful climb.
Very good stage in Chartreuse too, with Col du Granier (hard and famous by Chapareillan).
PS: Will, you are lucky with that climb of Salève, you can go there on foot or by bicycle. You’ll are no problem to park your car… And maybe you’ll climb Le Salève by bike just before the race like during Tour de France ?
Salut Bast
Oui, il y a plusieurs étapes très interessant cette année (pour les grimpeurs). Et bien sur je vais essayer regarder l’étape de Salève apres ayant le grimpé depuis chez moi.
Yes, there are several great stages in this years Dauphinée (for the climbers). And of course I will try and watch the Salève stage up top after cycling it from my house.
Do you need me to meet you at St Julien train station? 🙂
I am not sure to be available on June 12.
if I come, perhaps we could meet 🙂
salut Will
I have just discovered the second stage and the third one (the time trial) will arrive or take place very close to here so, I ‘ll be there watching.
this will cost me another RTT 😉
expect more pictures !
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