GP Barcelonnette   

One of the most exciting mountain stages occurs here on the Southern Alps in France. The peloton will start and finish their race in Barcelonnette. On the edges of Barcelonnette and Jausiers there are several houses and villas of colonial style constructed by emigrants to Mexico who returned to France between 1870 and 1930.

Barcelonnette is situated in the wide and fertile Ubaye Valley, of which it is the largest tow...

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One of the most exciting mountain stages occurs here on the Southern Alps in France. The peloton will start and finish their race in Barcelonnette. On the edges of Barcelonnette and Jausiers there are several houses and villas of colonial style constructed by emigrants to Mexico who returned to France between 1870 and 1930.

Barcelonnette is situated in the wide and fertile Ubaye Valley, of which it is the largest town. It lies at an elevation of 1132 meter on the right bank of the Ubaye River, and is surrounded by mountains with peaks of over 3.000 metres. The peloton won't reach such heights, however they do cross three summits of over 2.000 metres.

The riders will go south from Barcellonnette and almost immediately start climbing the first climb called Col d'Allos. After a difficult descent they will follow the road east over the Col des Champs. The route will go downhill until the riders come across a road heading towards Barcelonnette to the north. Soon they have to start climbing again to reach the summit of Col de la Cayolle, the last and toughest climb of the race. The race won't finish here which gives good downhillers the chance to catch up with the strongest climbers, while following the river downwards to Barcelonnette. It's likely that the race will end with a solo breakaway or a small group sprint.