June 8 update: Stage 4 finished at a ski resort, Stage 5 will start from one. From the Serre-Chevalier ski (and mountain bike) resort at elevation 1439m, we'll continue up and over one of several famous Tour de France climbs in the next several days, Col du Lautaret (15.5 km at 4%).

From Col du Lautaret, the highest point in this year's Dauphine at 2058m elevation, we'll start the long descent down to the Romanche Valley along the normally busy main highway through the area, the N91. At 55 km, before the TV coverage starts, the peloton will pass through Bourg d'Oisans, famous as a skiing and cycling base camp for all the great peaks that surround it. One of the ski resorts nearby is Alpe d'Huez which we'll revisit in Stage 6.

The descending continues until we reach Vizille, the low point of the stage at 310m elevation and the starting point for the HC Chamrousse climb that gains over 1400m, the biggest climb of this year's Dauphine featuring 17.5 km of 7.5%.

From the top of Chamrousse is a screaming 1500m descent down to the flat finish in Grenoble, which has hosted a Dauphine stage more than any other town -- at least 45 times. In the past, a small break usually arrives in Grenoble first while the GC contenders mark each other. This stage is only 144 km, the shortest of this year's race. — Steve

Stage 5 categorized climbs:
Km 15.0 - Col du Lautaret - 15.5 km at 4% (Category 2)
Km 112.0 - Chamrousse 1750 - 17.5 km at 7.5 % (HC)

Steephill.tv French Alps Touring Reports  • Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier  • Col de Sarenne (Alpe d'Huez)  • Villard Notre Dame  • The Vercors  • Provence: Le Mont-Ventoux  • Provence: Les Baronnies