Stage 7: Tomblaine > La Super Planche Des Belles Filles (July 8)

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 7: Mountain Stage #1 (Vosges Mountains)

176.3 km (110 mi)  / 2480m (8,135’)

TOMBLAINE>LA SUPER PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES

PJAMM CYCLING INTERACTIVE PROFILE TOOL

See our 2022 Tour de France page for the best way to view, analyze and filter Tour de France stage routes and climbs.

KOM CORNER

Official post-race summary for Stage 7 (July 8):

“IT’S POGACAR AGAIN - Tadej Pogacar took his second consecutive stage victory at La Super PLanche des Belles Filles as he overhauled breakaway rider Lennard Kämna with 100 metres to go along with Jonas Vingegaard and outsprinted the Dane at the eleventh hour.” More at letour - Stage 7 Summary 

STAGE 7 DETAILS AND STATISTICS

• Distance:  176 kilometers / 110 miles
• Altitude Gained: 2,480 meters / 8,135’
• Percentage Grade:

• 42% (74.1 kilometers/46 miles ) descent
• 51% (88.4  kilometers/55 miles) 0-5%
• 6% (11 kilometers/6.8 miles) 5-10%

• Steepest:

• 500 meters 13.2% / ¼ mile 13.6%
• 1 Kilometer 10.9% / 1 mile 10.1%

• Highest Point on the Route:  1140 meters / 3,740’ (La Super Planche des Belles Filles)
• Lowest Point on the Route:  201 meters / 659’

COMMENTS FROM RACE DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN PRUDHOMME - STAGE 7:

“Although this is the first summit finish of the 2022 Tour, it doesn’t come at the end of an authentic mountain stage. However, Super Planche des Belles Filles always guarantees a high-intensity finish. As the one big climbing test of the day, the gaps at the finish shouldn’t be that substantial, but the riders’ finishing positions will give a strong indication of the form of the podium contenders” (Tour de France Stage 7).

THE CLIMBS OF STAGE 7 OF THE 2022 TOUR DE FRANCE

letour.fr - Stage 7

CLIMB 1 (CAT 3)

COL DE GROSSE PIERRE

PJAMM CYCLING INTERACTIVE PROFILE TOOL

CLIMB 2 (CAT 3)

COL DES CROIX

PJAMM CYCLING INTERACTIVE PROFILE TOOL

CLIMB 3 (CAT 1)

LA SUPER PLANCHE DES BELLES-FILLES

PJAMM CYCLING INTERACTIVE PROFILE TOOL

6 appearances in the TdF between 1949 and 2022

letour.fr - Stage 7

EXPLANATION OF KING OF MOUNTAIN, KOM POINTS AND BONUS POINTS

FOR THE 2022 TOUR DE FRANCE

KOM DEFINED:  Climb-related points are accumulated during the race and the rider with the most accumulated points at the beginning of the stage wears the red polka dot jersey that day and the rider with the most points at the end of the race is crowned that year’s Tour de France King of the Mountains.

“Category”:  When the mountain classification (King of the Mountains) was introduced in 1933, there were points given to the first 10 riders over the summit (10 for first, 1 for 10th).  In 1947, the Tour introduced two climb “categories” with a certain amount of points for the second category and twice as many as for the first category.  Over the years “categories” were added, in addition to an “Above” category (Hors or HC) and since 1979 there have been an HC (hardest), Category 1 (second hardest) on down to Category 4 (least difficult climb).

The category of the climb is significant for 2 reasons:

• The points awarded for the TdF KOM for each climb is based upon the category of climb - thus, “category” is the basis for the points that are used to determine each year’s King of the Mountains.
• Most cycling fans, particularly Grand Tour fans, are very interested in the climb “category” because that tells them how hard each climb on a stage is and where the riders will struggle more and the point in a stage where that day, or even the entire tour, will be won or lost.

KOM HISTORY:  King of the Mountains -- Mountain Classification victories (first recognized in 1933; jersey introduced 1975)

• TdF:

• Richard Virenque: 7 - 1994-1997, 1999, 2003, 2004 (best tour finish #2 1997)
• Frederico Bahamontes (six: 1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964; nine in Grand Tours)  

• Triples (none ever in the same year):  Frederico Bahamontes and Louis Herrera.
• Doubles same year (TdF+Giro):  Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Lucien Van Impe, Claudio Chaippucci

POINTS:  KOM points are awarded in two ways on the Tour de France:

•  To riders first over the summit of categorized climbs (in descending order HC, 1-4).  

• The higher the category the more riders receive points (HC points are awarded to 8 riders while CAT 4 points are awarded to only 1 rider).

• Bonus point (see below).

TDF POINTS FORMULA:

Wikipedia has the best summary and graph we’ve seen for TdF KOM points distribution:

he points gained by consecutive riders reaching a mountain top are distributed according to the following classification:

Wikipedia - Mountains Classification - Tour de France

BONUS POINTS:  These points go towards the King of the Mountain designation and are awarded to the first (8 points), second (5) and third (2) riders reaching designated summits in the race.  

• There are no KOM bonuses in the 2022 Tour de France.

MONEY PRIZES FOR KING OF THE MOUNTAINS

• Prize for first to eighth place:

• Winner = €25,000
• 2nd = €15,000
• 3rd = €10,000
• 4th = €4,000
• 5th = €3,500
• 6th = €3,000
• 7th = €2,500
• 8th = €2,000

• Daily prize for wearing the Polka Dot jersey = €6,000
• Per category climb:

• HC

• 1st = €800
• 2nd = €450
• 3rd = €300

• Cat 1

• 1st = €650
• 2nd = €400
• 3rd = €150

• Cat 2

• 1st = €500
• 2nd = €250

• Cat 3

• 1st = €300

• Cat 4

• 1st = €200

• Sourvenir Henri Desgrange €5000 first to Col du Galibier pass Stage 11.

The maximum amount the KOM winner could earn if he won every stage and wore the jersey from Stage 2 to the finish is $60,300 Euros (62,773 USD)