Preview - Critérium du Dauphiné 2022 stage 8

In the final day of the Critérium du Dauphiné the riders head north. It’s the queen stage some would say, as it features a very tough summit finish, but overall the stage is hard from start to finish with 3700 meters of climbing packed into less than 140 kilometers.

This will be the final and decisive day for the overall classifications as the riders will have their final opportunity to make the difference.

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Stage 7: Saint-Alban-Leysse - Plateau de Solaison, 139Km

It all kicks of with the Col de Plainpalais which will be climbed straight from the startline. Not a brutal ascent but it’s sure to see the climbers form a strong breakaway group, and possible raid attempts as the first hour of racing has potential to be furious.

Col de Plainpalais: 8.9Km; 6.6% average gradient; 131Km to go

The penultimate climb of the day will be the Col de la Colombière. It summits with 38.5 kilometers to go and should see the pace high in order to set things up for the final ascent; with 11.9 kilometers at 5.8% average gradient.

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Col de la Colombière: 11.9Km; 5.8% average gradient; 38Km to go

The Plateau de Solaison though is where the riders will conclude the Critérium du Dauphiné. It’s a brutal ascent, with no rest from start to finish; it averages 9.2% for 11.3 kilometers, and it’s a double-digit ascent right from it’s base. Big gaps can be made, and the race won’t be sealed until the riders managed to drag themselves across the line.

Plateau de Solaison: 11.3Km; 9.2% average gradient 

CyclingUpToDate prediction:

**** Primoz Roglic

*** Jonas Vingegaard, Ben O'Connor

** David Gaudu, Tobias Johannessen, Esteban Chaves

* Damiano Caruso, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jack Haig, Louis Meintjes