The Col des Chevrères (elevation 916 m (3,005 ft)) is a mountain pass situated in the Vosges Mountains, in the Haute-Saône department of France, between Servance and Plancher-les-Mines. The Tour de France cycle race crossed the col for the first time on Stage 10 of the 2014 race.

Col des Chevrères
Col des Chevrères is located in Alps
Col des Chevrères
Col des Chevrères
Location of Col des Chevrères
Elevation916 m (3,005 ft)[1]
Traversed byD133/D98
LocationHaute-Saône, Franche-Comté, France
RangeVosges Mountains
Coordinates47°47′29″N 6°44′32″E / 47.79139°N 6.74222°E / 47.79139; 6.74222

Cycle racing edit

Details of climb edit

From Servance, to the north-west, the climb is 10.3 km (6.4 mi) long, gaining 516 m (1,693 ft) in altitude, at an average gradient of 5%.[2] The steepest sustained sections are in excess of 11%,[2] although some short sections above Miellin are at 18%.[3]

From Plancher-les-Mines, to the south, the climb via Belfahy is 12.8 km (8.0 mi) long, gaining 495 m (1,624 ft) in altitude, at an average gradient of 3.9%.[4]

Tour de France edit

On July 14, 2014, the Tour de France cycle race crossed the col for the first time en route from Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles.[3][5] When announcing the route, Christian Prudhomme explained his reasons for deciding to send the 2014 Tour over passes not used previously: "I like to use the other massifs than the usual Alps and Pyrenees. I believe the race can be won and lost anytime."[6]

The first rider over the summit was the Spaniard, Joaquim Rodriguez.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ IGN map
  2. ^ a b "Col de Chevreres - Servance". www.climbbybike.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Stage 10: Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Col de Chevreres - Plancher Bas". www.climbbybike.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Le col des Chevrères dans le Tour de France" (in French). ledicodutour. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  6. ^ Quénet, Jean-François (23 October 2013). "First 2014 Tour de France mountain stage not in the mountains". Cycling News. Retrieved 14 July 2014.