The final timetrial of the 2016 Tour de France comes with just 2 more “proper” stages remaining and will provide a great opportunity for the final GC positons to be decided although the next day’s summit finish at Le Bettex and stage 21’s final climb of the Joux Plane. The timetrial itself takes in the classic climb from Domancy (tackled 20 times in the 1980 World Champs), up through Combloux before a couple of steep ramps and a short descent to the finish in Megève.
Note: the official map of the course isn’t at the time of writing but I’m 99% sure that this is the correct route. Massive thanks to Mike at www.BreatheBike.com for riding the various possible routes to provide the profiles. If you want a trip to ride these roads yourself then drop Mike a line.
The Full Route
Côte de Domancy – 2.5km at 8.5%
A flat start out of Sallanches before taking a turn and passing the monument to Bernard Hinaut’s 1980 World Champs win. The Côte de Domancy is a fairly sustained climb maxing out at around 12% and will need to be attacked fairly hard but it will be tricky to get the pacing right to save enough for the rest of the course.
From the top of the Côte de Domancy the riders will turn left and straight onto the main road climbing from Sallanches to Megève. The gradient is now much steadier at 4-6% but there is no downhill or chance for recovery.
Final, Steep Sections
With the town of Megève in site, the course hangs a left and up a 200m 15% ramp past a ski lift station can be attacked hard as the road drops down to almost flat for around 1km. A sharp left hand bend will kill any hard-earned momentum before the final, km of climbing maxing at 12%.
A fairly safe descent to the finish negotiating two roundabouts and a finish by the sports centre is all that remains.
