It has been ten years since La Planche des Belles Filles first featured on the Tour de France. That stage also started in Tomblaine. Chris Froome turned out on top, finishing 2 seconds ahead of his then leader Bradley Wiggins.
Since then, La Planche des Belle Filles was included four times. So it’s the sixth stage finish in eleven years time in 2022. After Froome’s triumph, the climb also saw stage victories by Vincenzo Nibali (2014), Fabio Aru (2017), Dylan Teuns (2019), and Tadej Pogacar (2020). That last race was the dramatic uphill time trial on the penultimate day of action, in which Tadej Pogacar snatched the overall title from Primoz Roglic.
In most editions La Planche des Belles Filles was a climb of 5.9 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.5%. Yet, the 2019 edition featured an extra and unpaved section of 1 kilometre. This way, the ascent amounted to 7 kilometres at 8.7%.
The unpaved sector is also included on 8 July. The last 100 metres are on tarmac though. Beginning with an energy-sapping ramp at 24%, the final kick up is too steep for gravel.
Obviously, the race comes down to the finish climb, but of course there is more to the 7th stage. The first half of the route is virtually flat before the second part is more accidented. The riders tackle the Col de Grosse Pierre – 3.1 kilometres at 6.4% – and Col des Croix – 3.2 kilometres at 6.3% – before continuing to the Col de la Chevestraye. Which is a climb at shallow gradients – mostly false flat – just before the riders tackle La Planche des Belles Filles.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 7 Tour de France.
Another interesting read: results 7th stage 2022 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2022 stage 7: routes, profiles, more
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