Profiles, dates, times, analysis: the Tour de France 2023 route under the microscope (3/3)

STEP 16

When: Tuesday, July 18
Departure: Passy
Arrival: Combloux
Distance: 22.4km
First departure/Last arrival: 1:05 p.m./5:36 p.m.
Type: Individual Time Trial

The day after the second and last day of rest, the riders will have to come up against the one and only time of this 110th edition. A time trial far from flat and which might not even smile on the specialists. From a reasonable distance (22.4 km or around thirty minutes of effort), it is divided into three distinct parts.

The first offers an unlisted climb with the Cascade de Cœur coast (1.3km at 8.5%) before a second more rolling section, with a long descent where you will have to pedal and the 6km of flat which separate Sallanches and Domancy. The third and last part will be all uphill, with the ascent to Combloux (6.3km at 6.6%) via the Côte de Domancy (2.5km at 9.4%) – listed on it. A time for strong man of the general classification.

STEP 17

When: Wednesday, July 19
Departure: Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc
Arrival: Courchevel
Distance: 165.7km
Departure time: 12:20 p.m.
Type: High mountain

It is the last high mountain stage and without any doubt the queen stage of this Tour de France 2023. From Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc to Courchevel, there will not be a moment of respite. After about fifteen kilometers of false flat, the riders will chain the Col des Saisies (13.4km at 5.1%) and the magnificent but terrible Cormet de Roselend (19.9km at 6%) before plunging towards Bourg-Saint -Mauritius and the coast of Longefroy (6.6km at 7.5%).

But the hardest part is to come with the interminable Col de la Loze (28.1km at 6%), in two parts: the 14km at 6% of the climb towards Méribel via Courchevel will wear out the organisms before the last 11 km at 8.5% – of which 5km at 11% -, . This time, you will also have to switch to the technical descent towards Courchevel, where the finish will be judged at the top of the altiport (1km at 9%). A step that promises to be epic and dantesque.

STEP 18

When: Thursday, July 20
Departure: Moutiers
Arrival: Bourg-en-Bresse
Distance: 184.9km
Departure time: 1:05 p.m.
Type: Plain

Coming out of the Alps and the toughest stage of this 110th edition, what state will the peloton be in? This question will very probably depend on the scenario of this 18th stage. On paper, everything indicates a massive arrival in Bourg-en-Bresse, which has always been the scene of it on its two arrivals on the Tour, in 2002 (Hushovd) and 2007 (Boonen). If the plains of the Ain are often conducive to the edges, the cleared portions will be too rare here, even if it will be necessary to be wary between Ambérieu-en-Bugey (44km from the finish) and Pont-d’Ain (35km) . No, the biggest danger for the sprinters will come from a breakaway that the peloton would not be able to physically control.

STEP 19

When: Friday, July 21
Departure: Moirans-en-Montagne
Arrival: Poligny
Distance: 172.8km
Departure time: 1:15 p.m.
Type: Plain

As was already the case for the previous day’s stage, this 19th opus promises a great fight between the breakaway and the peloton. On steeper terrain than towards the Ain prefecture, with very little flat, it will be difficult for the peloton to control a big breakaway, especially with the climb up the Ivory side (2.3km at 5, 9%), 28km from the finish. And even if we had a massive arrival, it would not be surprising if the accumulated fatigue surprises a few sprinters and offers us a sprint like that of Carcassonne in 2022. Unless we find the scenario of Champagnole 2020, with a breakaway that spins under the nose of the peloton, at the end of a stage at infernal tempo. Everything is possible.

STEP 20

When: Saturday July 22
Departure: Belfort
Arrival: Le Markstein-Fellering
Distance: 133.5km
Departure time: 1:30 p.m.
Type: Medium mountain

Last day to try to reverse the general classification. And what a day! For this penultimate stage, the organizers offered a short but very dense stage in the Vosges with, from the start, the Ballon d’Alsace (11.5km at 5.2%) then the sequence of the Col de la Croix des Moinats (5.2km at 7%), the Col de Grosse Pierre (3.2km at 8%) and the Col de la Schlucht (4.3km at 5.4%), in less than thirty kilometres. Enough to launch the big maneuvers even before the final beetle, with the high percentages of the Petit Ballon (9.3km at 8.1%) – its second appearance only on the Tour – and the Col du Platzewasel (7.1km at 8, 4%). It will not be necessary to arrive empty at the top of the latter, since there will remain 8km overall in false flat descending towards Le Markstein. A day of all dangers for the yellow jersey.

STEP 21

When: Sunday July 23
Departure: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
Arrival: Paris Champs-Elysées
Distance: 115.1km
Departure time: 4:30 p.m.
Type: Plain

One year from the 2024 Olympic Games, the Tour de France could not avoid a massive nod to the organization of the most prestigious event, with a start in the Yvelines, where all the disciplines of cycling, a passage through Montigny-le-Bretonneux, where the national velodrome is located, before returning to Versailles and a course then strictly identical to that of last year. The Pavé des Gardes coast (1.3km at 6.9%) will award the last point for the mountain classification before entering Paris and the final 6.8km circuit. Like every year, it’s a small world championship for sprinters which will take place on the most beautiful avenue in the world.