Tour de France 2023: today’s stage and the route

ANNEMASS – And here are the Alps. Along the 151.8 km of the Annemasse – Morzine there will be five gpm, for a total of 4200 meters in altitude. The stage will mainly focus on the ascent and subsequent descent of the Col de Joux Planevery hard and full of memories related to Marco Pantani: in 1997 the Pirate attacked uphill and after an impressive descent, with some creepy moments due to the backward position, touching the rear wheel with his butt, he went on to win. In 2000 he attempted the feat from afar in Courchevel-Morzine, but on the Joux Plane he arrived already detached from Armstrong, Ullrich and the others. The next day he retired.

Today’s stage starts uphill, in the truest sense of the word: after 18 km there is already the Col de Saxel. About ten km of descent and here is the Col de Cou (7 km at 7.4%) and, after a short descent, the Col de Feu (5.8 km at 7.8%). Then begins a simpler phase, on a slight slope, until you arrive after about thirty km, at the foot of the fourth climb of the day, the Col de la Ramaz (13.9km at 7.1%). From the top there will be 50 km. At -25, after a technical descent and a short valley floor, the Col de Joux Plane: 11.6 km decisive for the stage and perhaps for the whole Tour. The gradients, in fact, never drop below 7% and the second part is constantly above 9%, with no moments of respite. At the brow there will also be the classic bonus seconds, precious in such a tight classification situation. From the summit there are 12 km to Morzine, two on a slight slope, 8 on a steep, very technical descent, up to the last km which is flat and very slightly uphill. Very tough stage, which will exalt the climbers and will once again be a battleground between Vingegaard and Pogacar.

Departure: 1.20pm
TV and streaming: 2.45pm-6pm Rai 2; 12.45-18.00 Eurosport 1 / Eurosport, Discovery+, GCN