Fifteen days after the great start, given in Bilbao (Spain), the 2023 Tour de France enters the Alps. The day after the summit finish of the Grand Colombier on Friday, mountaineers should still be protagonists on Saturday 15 July, on the occasion of the 14thAnd stage between Annemasse and Morzine Le Portes du Soleil. 152 kilometers long, the route is laid out entirely in the Haute-Savoie department.
With 4,200 meters of elevation gain and five listed climbs, the day is enough to scare some runners. Especially as the start promises to be explosive, given that there will be three difficulties to overcome in the first third of the stage: the Col de Saxel (4.2 km at 4.6%, 3And category), Col de Cou (7km at 7.4%, 1d category) and the Col du Feu (5.8 km at 7.8%, 1d category), overlooking Lake Geneva.
But the hardest part will still be ahead. First, the Col de la Ramaz (13.9km at 7.1%, 1d category), before the formidable Joux Plane pass (11.6km at 8.5%, out of category), where even Lance Armstrong, the American runner who later admitted to doping, had had difficulties in the 2000s.
In addition to the points for the mountain awarded to its summit, located 12 kilometers from the finish, the first three will collect eight, five and two seconds of bonuses. With Vingegaard just 9 seconds ahead of Pogacar at the start of the stage, a change to the yellow jersey cannot be ruled out. Christian Prudhomme, the race director, warns: “It will be necessary to mobilize downhill talent to dive like winners on Morzine. »
