Grenoble TT made for strongest riders

Posted 22 July 2011

Grenoble – Grenoble, 42.5 kilometres

The riders who rode the Dauphine will have the upper hand when the Tour de France rolls into Grenoble for the penultimate stage which features a 42.5 kilometre individual time trial to settle the overall GC.

Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) beat Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) by 11 seconds having posted a winning time of 55’27” on the course during the Dauphine and could go faster this time out consideringthe inclement weather which played a part on that occasion.

The stage is designed to suit a strong rider rather than a specialist against the clock and the timing of the stage after three weeks of racing and three consecutive tough days in the high mountains will have an intriguing impact on the results.

The course peaks and troughs but never rises to more than 581 metres. The undulating parcours makes it difficult to maintain a rhythm. The road rises at Brie et Argonnes (9kms), Vaul Naveys Le-Haut (22.5kms) and at Saint Martin d’Uriage (27.5kms) before decending to the final seven kilometres.

The races within the race will be provide plenty of excitement as the riders battle to decide the final finishing order in the general classification and respective classifications. Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) lost 3’31” here in the Dauphine and will need to improve significantly this time out.

Tour rewind:

Grenoble is no stranger to hosting the Tour having previously welcomed the race on 38 occasions but its association with the event is a lot more significant that many people realise.

The city hosted its first ever stage in 1905 although it is the 11th stage of the 1919 Tour that stands out above all others. A special ceremony took place at the start of that stage when a yellow jersey which had been created to identify the leader of the general classification was presented to Eugene Christophe.

The impact of the innovation and the presentation ceremony was insignificant at the time. It was lavishly praised by a ten-line news piece in L’Auto, the daily sports paper. Since then 267 champions have worn the famous garment while the presentation ceremony has become a key feature of every stage.