Super Besse
Encyclopedia
Super Besse is a winter sports resort in the Massif Central
in France
.
in the Parc naturel régional des volcans d'Auvergne in the department of Puy de Dôme, in Auvergne
. Situated approximately 50 km from Clermont-Ferrand
, it is located at an altitude of 1350 m on the slopes of Puy de Sancy
, Puy de la Perdrix and Puy Ferrand.
The on piste skiing represents 43 km distributed on 27 tracks (5 green, 9 blue, 9 red and 4 black) between 1300 m and 1840 m altitude, on the south-eastern slope of Puy de Sancy
, and is served by 21 ski lifts ensuring a maximum flow of 20,000 skiers per hour. There are also 125 km of cross-country skiing.
The resort has:
The skiable field extends to "Grand Sancy" thanks to the connection to Mont-Dore, located on the northern slope of Puy de Sancy. However this connection is seldom open because of the difficult winter climate (strong winds, frozen snow, fog etc.).
. The finish was at an altitude of 1289 m, whereas in previous years the finish was at 1350 m.
No winner is recorded for the 2008 stage as original stage winner Riccardo Riccò
was removed from the classification after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancer CERA.
(1040 m.), the climb to Super Besse (1325 m.) is 7.2 km long. Over this distance, the climb is 285 m. (an average of 3.95%). The maximum gradient is 8.4%.
From the valley at Lomprat the total climb is 11 km at 4.7%.
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
The winter sports resort of Super Besse is located in the commune of Besse-et-Saint-AnastaiseBesse-et-Saint-Anastaise
Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, also known as Besse-en-Chandesse , or Besse , is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France....
in the Parc naturel régional des volcans d'Auvergne in the department of Puy de Dôme, in Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
. Situated approximately 50 km from Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
, it is located at an altitude of 1350 m on the slopes of Puy de Sancy
Puy de Sancy
Puy de Sancy is the highest mountain in the Massif Central and therefore the highest mountain in central France ....
, Puy de la Perdrix and Puy Ferrand.
Facilities
Puy de Sancy
Puy de Sancy is the highest mountain in the Massif Central and therefore the highest mountain in central France ....
, and is served by 21 ski lifts ensuring a maximum flow of 20,000 skiers per hour. There are also 125 km of cross-country skiing.
The resort has:
- 1 funitelFunitelA funitel is a type of aerial lift, generally used to transport skiers. The name funitel is a portmanteau between the French words funiculaire and telepherique. Funitels have not only been used as a means to transport skiers; there is one used to transport finished cars between different areas of...
with 20 places (new in 2008) - 4 chair-lifts
- 16 ski-lifts.
The skiable field extends to "Grand Sancy" thanks to the connection to Mont-Dore, located on the northern slope of Puy de Sancy. However this connection is seldom open because of the difficult winter climate (strong winds, frozen snow, fog etc.).
Tour de France
Super-Besse hosted the first mountain finish of the 2008 Tour de France2008 Tour de France
The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
. The finish was at an altitude of 1289 m, whereas in previous years the finish was at 1350 m.
Tour de France stage finishes
| Year | Stage | Start of stage | Distance (km) | Category of climb | Stage winner | Yellow jersey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 Tour de France -Pre-race favourites:2010 winner Alberto Contador was suspended from cycling during a doping investigation from September 2010 to February 2011, during which time 2010 runner-up Andy Schleck was regarded as the favourite. When the suspension was lifted, Contador declared his desire to compete in... |
8 | Aigurande Aigurande Aigurande is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-History:The town's name derives from the Gallic word "Equoranda", which refers to a river or stream separating two Gallic tribes Aigurande is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-History:The town's name derives from... |
189 | 3 | Rui Costa Rui Costa (cyclist) Rui Alberto Faria da Costa is a Portuguese professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .... |
Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
| 2008 2008 Tour de France The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage... |
6 | Aigurande Aigurande Aigurande is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-History:The town's name derives from the Gallic word "Equoranda", which refers to a river or stream separating two Gallic tribes Aigurande is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-History:The town's name derives from... |
195.5 | 2 | None | Kim Kirchen Kim Kirchen Kim Kirchen is a former Luxembourg road racing cyclist.-Career:Kirchen signed as a professional cyclist in 2000 with De Nardi-Pasta Montegrappa, and went on to join in 2001... |
| 1996 1996 Tour de France The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day .... |
13 | Le Puy-en-Velay Le Puy-en-Velay Le Puy-en-Velay is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.Its inhabitants are called Ponots.-History:Le Puy-en-Velay was a major bishopric in medieval France, founded early, though its early history is legendary... |
177 | 3 | Rolf Sorensen | Bjarne Riis Bjarne Riis Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard... |
| 1978 1978 Tour de France The 1978 Tour de France was the 65th Tour de France, taking place June 29 to July 23, 1978. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3908 km, with riders averaging 36.084 km/h... |
13 | Figeac Figeac Figeac is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.Figeac is a sub-prefecture of the department.-History:Figeac is on the via Podiensis, a major hiking medieval pilgrimage trail which is part of the Way of St. James... |
221.5 | 3 | Paul Wellens Paul Wellens (cyclist) Paul Wellens was a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. In 1978, he won the combativity award in the Tour de France.- Palmarès :1977... |
Joseph Bruyère Joseph Bruyère Joseph Bruyere or Bruyère is a former Belgian cyclist.- Major wins :1969197119721974- Tour de France :*1970 - 50st*1971 - 60st*1972 - 26st; winner of 19th stage*1974 - 21st... |
No winner is recorded for the 2008 stage as original stage winner Riccardo Riccò
Riccardo Riccò
Riccardo Riccò is a professional road bicycle racer from Italy, currently under contract to UCI Continental team Meridiana-Kamen, and suspended from competition. He was ejected from the 2008 Tour de France for doping violations and suspended...
was removed from the classification after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancer CERA.
Details of climb
Starting from Besse-et-Saint-AnastaiseBesse-et-Saint-Anastaise
Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, also known as Besse-en-Chandesse , or Besse , is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France....
(1040 m.), the climb to Super Besse (1325 m.) is 7.2 km long. Over this distance, the climb is 285 m. (an average of 3.95%). The maximum gradient is 8.4%.
From the valley at Lomprat the total climb is 11 km at 4.7%.