All in all, stage 4 contains 3,311 metres of climbing. The race brings three category 1 cols and two category 3 cols. At the top of Col des Planches the highest point of the day is crested after around 80 kilometres in the saddle. The climb is 11.4 kilometres at 8.2%.
The arrival place is called Villars-sur-Ollon, but is usually referred to as Villars. Located at an elevation of 1,255 metres, the climb comes with an average gradient of 5.3%, but that is exactly what it is: an average. The middle section is by far the steepest of the whole ascent. The lower slopes are doable, while the slopes flatten out considerably under the top.
Before the finale the riders have had a taste of what’s in store as the closing climb is on the menu twice. After the first toil up the irregulare slopes the top crested with 140 kilometres done. A drop brings them back to the foot of the col.
In 2014 the Villars-climb was the last climb in stage 3. Crested with 15 kilometres left, the race went to Aigle with Simon Spilak outperforming Chris Froome in a sprint-à-deux.
Race results/race report stage 4, Tour de Romandie 2016.
Tour de Romandie 2016 Stage 4: Route maps, height profiles, etc.
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