The 2011 Tour de France in the French Alps
In 2010, the Tour de France celebrated 100 years of racing in the Pyrenees. In 2011 the celebrations continue and the Tour de France will celebrate 100 years of riding in the Alps, with three mountain stages and an individual time-trial in the region. The highlight will be the ascent of the 2646 metre Col du Galibier on two consecutive days, one of the most beautiful climbs in the French Alps. The riders will also take in notable climbs including the Col Agnel, the Col d'Izoard and the climb to the ski resort of Alpe d'Huez. If that wasn't enough, Grenoble hosts the only individual time-trial of the 2011 race with a 41 kilometre route that will take the riders from Grenoble and through the villages of Eybens, Vizille and Uriage.
In 2011, the Tour de France will start with a standard road race stage on Saturday July 2nd in the Vendree region on the west coast of France. The second stage is a 23 kilometre team time-trial before the route turns north and into Brittany. The climbs of the Massif Central will give the riders the chance to test their climbing legs before the Pyrenees arrive on stage 12, with two mountain top finishes to Luz-Ardiden and the Plateau de Beille. The Alps arrive on stage 17 with three days of road racing in the mountains. Stage 20 is an individual time-trial in Grenoble before the finish in Paris on the Champs-Élysées the next day.
In total, 3471 kilometres over 21 stages with six high mountain stages, ten flat stages and three medium mountain stages.
My Advice
This page has been put together to help in planning a trip to see the Tour de France in the Alps. I've included details of the route through the Alps with my photographs, my thoughts as well as links to sites which may help in planning a trip to watch the Tour de France in 2011.
After 11 years living and cycling in France and running this website, and three years of running successful tours to see the Tour de France, there are a number of things you can do to get the best from a day out at the Tour de France.
- Get there early. The roads are often closed three or four hours before the riders are expected to arrive. Once the road is closed, the gendarmes will not let you pass. You can still walk and in some cases cycle but the roads are closed to cars.
- Remember to pack cold weather clothes as it can get chilly on the mountains, even when it is not cloudy or raining. Typically in the summer, mornings will be still and clear in the Alps, with a build up of clouds over the mountains in the afternoon. This is especially something to think about if you are cycling as you can keep warm when riding up a climb but soon chill when you stop.
- Make sure you have food and drink, and money for the day.
- Pick up the paper - the local paper around Grenoble is the Dauphine Libere. In here, you will have the intinerary and the rider numbers.
- Remember the little things, your camera and battery, a map of the area.
With all these things covered, get ready to soak up the atmosphere. The Tour de France is an amazing experience.
For any other questions or advice, remember the Grenoble Cycling Pages message board.
Wednesday 20th July - Into the Alps
Tour de France Stage 17 : Gap - Pinerolo : 179 km
Profile : The two main climbs in the middle of the stage, with the summit of the final technical climb only eight kilometres before the finish.
Stage Detail : After leaving Gap, the first 88 kilometres of the stage will gradually climb to the alpine town of Briançon before the ascent to the first mountain pass of the day, the 1860 metre Col de Montgenèvre. The riders climb to over 2000 metres in altitude to Sestrières before the route descends for over 40 kilometres to the foot of the final climb.
The climb of the Pra'Martino is just over 400 metres of vertical ascent in seven kilometres. The average gradient is only six percent, but this short ascent is an undulating climb with steady gradients for the first two and a half kilometres before a number of sections at over 13 and 16 percent. This will be the perfect place for an explosive rider to attack. The slope does ease for the last two kilometres to a gradient of just over three percent.
Once the race starts the descent, the first four kilometres of the seven kilometre to Pinerolo are on a winding road that is frequently steeper than ten percent. A strong descender could easily take time out other riders on this technical road to try and hold on for a win at the finish in Pinerolo.
| Climb Name | Distance into Stage | Details |
| Col de Montgenèvre (1860m) | 97 km | 8 km climb at 6.4% |
| Col de Sestrières (2033m) | 117 km | 11.5 km climb at 5.9% |
| Colle Pra Martino (916m) | 171 km | 6.9 km climb at 6% |
Around Pinerolo : Pinerolo is situated 40 kilometres to the west of the Italian city of Turin, at the foot of the valley to Sestrières.
Best view points
: We can expect the breakaway to be established before the Col de Montgenèvre and Sestrières. The real fireworks will be on the final climb of the Cote de Pra'Martino where the strong riders will be attacking to win the stage and to take time out of the other riders.
Thursday 21st July - The Alpine Giants
Tour de France Stage 18 : Pinerolo - Galibier Serre-Chevalier : 189 km
Profile :
Stage Detail : The riders leave Pinerolo and enjoy 44 kilometres riding in the valley to the village of Piasco before starting 51 kilometres of climbing to the 2744 metre Col Agnel. The first 41 kilometres average around a three percent gradient, before the slope steepens to over nine percent for the final nine kilometres with some sections at 15 percent and one section at 18 percent.
The day's second climb is the Col d'Izoard, a beautiful climb and one of the highlights of the French Alps. It is the shortest ascent of the day with just over 11 kilometres of climbing to 2360 metres at an average of seven percent. The climb takes the riders on open roads through the villages of Arvieux and Brunissard before climbing into the trees for the next five kilometres. Once the riders crest the Col de la Platrière at just under 2,200 metres, there is a small descent into the Casse Desert, a section of road that takes the riders underneath sandy coloured scree slopes and cliffs, where weathered rock formations tower above the road. Two kilometres of climbing are left to take the race to the Col d'Izoard.
Following the descent from the Izoard, the race takes the riders through the alpine town of Briançon for the second time in two days, where the final ascent to the 2646 metre Col du Gaibier begins. The first 28 kilometres climb take the riders to the 2058 metre Col du Lautaret on a wide road which is never steep and averages just over three percent. The sting is in the tail of the stage, and the climbing continues after the Col du Lautaret as the route joins the final eight and a half kilometres to the 2646 metre Col du Galibier. The three percent gradients of the Col du Lautaret are replaced by an average of just under seven percent, where the final kilometre the gradient ramps up to over ten percent with sections at 12 percent before the finish at the 2646 metre Col du Galibier.
| Climb Name | Distance into Stage | Details |
| Col Agnel (2744m) | 95 km | 51 km climb at 4.2% |
| Col d'Izoard (2360m) | 134 km | 11.5 km climb at 7% |
| Col du Galibier (2646m) | 189 km | 36 km climb at 4.3% |
Around the Col du Galibier : The Col du Galibier is a desolate place in the heart of the French Alps. There are two refuges, each a kilometre from the Col du Galiber and situated on each side of the tunnel. The closest villages are Valloire on the north side of the Galibier, Briançon on the east side and Bourg d'Oisans on the west side.
Best view points : This is a day when we are spoilt for choice. The views of the race and of the mountains vistas are stunning from each of the three climbs. The Agnel is long and steepens over the last few kilometres for the riders, with a natural amphitheatre at the top with a great view down over the road below. The race will already be split up on this climb. The Izoard again is steep and is a beautiful road. The road to the Col du Galibier is breathtaking with the view of the 4000 metre peaks of the Ecrins massif as well as the view over the road below. The road is steep here and the riders will be tired and pushing to get to the stage finish.
Friday 22nd July - Short and Intense
Tour de France Stage 19 : Modane - Alpe-d'Huez : 109 km
Profile : Only 109 kilometres of racing with three climbs and a finish up the Alpe d'Huez.
Stage Detail : By creating a short mountain stage, the Tour de France organisers have created an exciting and unpredictable stage.
The stage begins in Modene at 1057 metres in altitude before descending 14 kilometres to the foot of the Col du Galibier, 700 metres in altitude. The Galibier is signposted 34 kilometres away from St-Michel-de-Maurienne and starts with the 12 kilometre climb to the 1566 metre Col du Télégraphe. The best views from the first climb come in the first kilometres before the road climbs through forest where views are hidden by trees. After the Col, the route gives the riders five kilometres of rest with a small descent to the ski resort of Valloire.
The Col du Galibier can be found 18 kilometres above Valloire with over 1,200 metres of vertical climb. The climb steepens above the Plan Lachat, the hairpin at the end of the valley with eight kilometres to the Col. Gradients of around seven percent are replaced with gradients of eight to nine percent and it can often be windy here. The hairpins are frequent here and for the first three kilometres above the Plan Lachet, the front riders will be able to see down the valley towards Valloire to see how much of a lead they have, and vice versa, the riders chasing will be able to see the riders climbing on the road above them.
The summit of the Col du Galibier can be seen with five kilometres left to climb. If it is windy, this can be a very tough section as the gradient is steep and the riders will have tired legs. The steepest part of the Galibier is left for the last kilometre where the gradient passes ten percent and it is here that winter snow can often still be found on the mountainside.
The riders will descend for around 50 minutes from the 2,646 metre Col du Lautaret, riding through La Grave and past the road to les Deux Alps before dropping into Bourg d'Oisans and the start of the climb to Alpe d'Huez.
When cycling the 14 kilometres, 21 hairpins and 1,100 vertical metres to the finish in the ski resort of Alpe d'Huez, the climb can be broken down into three stages. The first part of the climb is the steepest with gradients above ten percent for the first two kilometres and six hairpins until the hamlet of La Garde.
The gradient then eases to around eight percent after hairpin 16 and the hairpins are a little more spread out for the following six kilometres. The road climbs through the hamlet of Le Ribot and then past the church above the hamlet.
When the riders pass hairpin six, they will be able to see the ski resort above them on the horizon. There are only five hairpins left outside the ski resort from here and after hairpin four, the gradient steepens to 11 percent for a kilometre before easing to nine percent. Once the riders are into the village of Alpe d'Huez, the final two kilometres to the finishing line ease to around five percent.
| Climb Name | Distance into Stage | Details |
| Col du Télégraphe (1566m) | 26.5 km | 12 km climb at 7.3% |
| Col du Galibier (2646m) | 48.5 km | 18 km climb at 6.9% |
| Alpe d'Huez (1780m) | 109 km | 14 km climb at 7.7% |
Around Alpe d'Huez : Other notable climbs around Alpe d'Huez include the Col de la Croix de Fer, the Col du Glandon, the Col de Sarenne, the Col d'Ornon and Deux Alpes. The Alps here make a great base for walking and mountain biking as well as road cycling. Alpe d'Huez is a big ski resort with accommodation and restaurants, so it is easy to spend a few days in the area.
Best view points : Alpe d'Huez
The best spot has to be Alpe d'Huez to have 'the' Tour de France experience in in 2011. The tourist office in the ski resort reported over half a million people on the mountain in both 2003 and 2004 at the height of 'Lancemania'. The experience starts up to a week before for some keen fans. Don't worry, you can arrive early on the day and find a good spot.
Alpe d'Huez has it all; the mountain views, the incredible atmosphere and an uphill finish where the riders are split up into small groups. You can expect to have at least 30 minutes between the first and last rider to pass. My favourite spots are between hairpin three and one. There is a lot of mountainside in which you can find a spot to wait for the Tour, and this is perfect if you've got a young family who need to expend energy as there is plenty of mountainside for running around. Expect traffic jams getting to the resort, so the earlier you leave, the better and expect even bigger jams after the Tour.
Saturday 23rd July - Time-trial around Grenoble
Tour de France Stage 20 : Grenoble Individual time-trial : 41 km
Profile : 41 kilometre individual time-trial with one climb
Stage Detail : Grenoble is a city surrounded by three mountain ranges, the Alps to the east, the Chartreuse to the north and the Vercors to the south-west. However, the organisers have kept the 2011 Tour de France time-trial on the valley roads with one small climb followed by a gradual ascent and decent back into the city.
The route leaves the centre of Grenoble and takes the riders south to the suburb of Eybens before the climb up to Brie et Angonnes and the descent to Vizille. The route then takes the riders to the town of Uriages-les-Bains before descending back to the city.
Best view points : Around Grenoble
The kilometre of climb above Brie et Angonnes will give you a view point of the riders climbing. Between Vizille and Uriages-les-Bains, the road is long and straight for a number of kilometres with a number of fields on each side of the road.
Remember the Tour de France offiicial website as well as Cyclingnews coverage of the 2011 event.