Etape du Tour 2012 - Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles - route analysis

Acte I of the Etape du Tour 2012 is from Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles and is a 140 kilometre stage with a lot of climbing. By our initial reckoning it is 4,370 metres of climbing and will be a good test of any rider, whether new to the Etape du Tour or a veteran of many Etapes.

Starting in Albertville the route has about 15km of almost flat/gently uphill before reaching the start of the climb up the Col de la Madeleine. This climb is a 25km climb at an average of 6.3 degrees. The first 3km prove a decent test with about two thirds of it at 9.5 degrees but after this it settles at 6 degrees for another 3.5km. At Villard Benoit, which is 10km in, the route flattens for 5km with an the average ascent of just 2 degrees. At 12km up the climb - just under half way - the ascent really kicks in and from here it is properly uphill all the way. There is 4km at roughly 9 degrees followed by 1km at 11.3 degrees, followed by 3km at about 4 degrees and then the final 5km to the top at about 8 degrees.

With riders starting early in the morning this should be a good, testing climb but shouldn't cause any major problems if your fitness levels are good. Working your way into a good sensible rhythm is the answer for the Col de la Madeleine. It is a beautiful climb and has great views over the surrounding valleys, so for those who look further than their front wheel it should be a fantastic ascent.

From the top of the Madeleine there is a 21.5km descent to Saint Etienne de Cuines, which should not be too tricky as the initial climb will have thinned out the field and also the staggered start will mean there should be no issues of over-crowding.

Riders are now faced with the famous 24km ascent of the Col de la Croix de Fer via the Col du Glandon. This climb is at an average of 7 degrees and is considered the hardest way to the top of the Croix de Fer, of the three available routes. The initial ascent is nothing too challenging at between 3 to 5 degrees but at 11km there is a short descent before nearly 1.5km of climbing at about 11.3 degrees - make sure you shift to the little ring on the bottom of the descent rather than as you hit the climb or you could have some interesting results...

The final 3km of the Col du Glandon edges up in steepness to 7 degrees and the climb over from Glandon to Croix de la Fer is steep, hitting 11 degrees at points. You need to be mentally prepared for this bit.

From the top there is a descent of about 17km before you hit the 6km long ascent of the Col de Mollard, which is at an average of 6.8 per cent. It's a pretty straighforward climb with one short section at 10.6 degrees but generally it shouldn't be too challenging. However if you have started from one of the later pens in the Etape it will be warm by now and after resting your legs on the ascent from Croix de la Fer this could be a nasty little lump that your body doesn't appreciate

There then follows a 16.5km descent of 1,034 metres into St Jean de Maurienne before the final climb of the day. This climb to the resort of La Toussuire-Les Sybelles is 18.5 kilometres with a total ascent of 1,101 metres, meaning an average gradient of just over 6 degrees. This is not a tricky climb and the worst is over after 3km because between 1km and 3km it is at its steepest at 8.5 degrees. After that it settles down and is pretty gentle throughout at between 5 and 7 degrees, with even a short descent at the 11km mark to get a breather in. The final 3km are at around 4 degrees so there is not even a killer section at the end to finish you off. However it will be a far tougher ride later in the day with a huge amount of climbing already in your legs – so don't underestimate how much of a challenge it could be, especially if you've never tackled something like this before.

All in all, it looks like a pretty good Acte I for the 2012 Etape. It's not impossible, it has some good famous climbs in it and it's a decent distance. However a lot of what it is like will depend on the weather – if it's wet and windy it will be very tough and if it's boiling hot the considerable amount of climbing will be a test for the best cyclist.

Online registration for Acte I will open on 17 November 2012.