Its climate, among the driest and sunniest in the region, earned Embrun the nickname of “Nice of the Alps”. Form its rock, it overlooks the artificial lake of Serre-Poncon, the second largest in Europe, to which gather every summer the most seasoned triathletes for the annual Embruman. In July 2013, the Embrun man was a Britishman by the name of Chris Froome who dominated the individual TT to Chorges to strengthen his yellow jersey and tighten his grip over final victory in the centenary Tour.
In 2008, Embrun was the launch pad to a stage to l'Alpe d'Huez won by Carlos Sastre, who also seized the yellow jersey that day. In that edition, Embrun had the privilege to host two stage starts. The first had been won in Prato Nevoso, across the Italian border, by Simon Gerrans.
In 1973, the peloton left Embrun for Nice and Spaniard won the first of his three stage victories on the Tour, one year before finishing on the podium behind Eddy Merckx and Raymond Poulidor. Embrun is also the hometown of Eric Boyer, fifth in the 1988 Tour de France and the former manager of Team Cofidis.
