Alongside the presentation of the Tour de France, ASO also presented the 2023 Étape du Tour, which will take place between Annemasse and Morzine, on the route of the professionals’ 14th stage. While Annemasse had already hosted the Tour in 2004, this is the first time it will be the starting town for the cyclosportive event, which attracts nearly 15,000 participants each year. We took advantage of a late Indian summer to reconnoiter the 152 km course with 4000 m of elevation gain in every detail.

By David Polveroni – Photos: ASO / DR

In 2004, the stage linking Lons-le-Saunier to Annemasse saw the famous episode between Lance Armstrong and Filippo Simeoni, linked to accusations against Dr. Ferrari. But let’s get back to something more concrete and what you’ll need to prepare for this challenge that is the mythical Étape du Tour, which will link Annemasse to Morzine, in the Portes du Soleil, with 152 km and a full 4000 m of elevation gain awaiting you on July 9, 2023. The event will link the shores of Lake Geneva to the Portes du Soleil via the Cols du Saxel, de Cou, du Feu, de la Jambaz, to finish with the very difficult Ramaz-Joux Plane sequence.

“Act rather than speak”: such is the motto of the Annemassiens, a motto in line with this stage and which must be applied from today so that your preparation is exemplary in order to achieve your objectives… You must understand that this route will become increasingly difficult over the first 140 kilometers, with the last twelve being downhill. The further the distance, the harder the climbs will be. And the further you go into the cols, the steeper they will be…

A gradual start

After a first section of 12 km that allows you to get out of the town of Annemasse and its suburbs, the route arrives at Fillinge, at the foot of the first percentages. This is a rolling slope to approach this event. After crossing the Ménoge, a sub-tributary of the Rhône flowing into the Arve, you will turn right to enter the Vallée Verte. This climb with percentages not exceeding 5% over a little more than 4 km will be the first difficulty to overcome. Nothing to worry about, it’s rather easy! A short flat section, and you will then tackle the first col of the day, the Col du Saxel.

From the exit of Boëge, it’s a col in the extension of the first small bump and in the same style. Slopes of 4-5% for 4 km crossing small villages. It’s regular. No surprises. The ideal type of col to warm up. This stage is, as we will see later, a model of Negative Split or, in French, increasing difficulty.

After passing this Col du Saxel at an altitude of 944 m, you will continue this series of three climbs/descents on the foothills of Lake Geneva. This crescent-shaped lake, with an area of 581 km2, is the largest Alpine and sub-Alpine lake in Europe. Located in France and Switzerland, it allows nearby cyclists to ride around it (from time to time…). A trifle of a little over 200 km… A week before the Étape du Tour, on July 3, the Châtel Chablais Léman Race event uses part of it. Enough to familiarize yourself with the region. The first descent has no pitfalls, except for the distraction offered by the lake on your right. So, think about refueling and hydration already. As usual, these will be very important points to best build your Étape.

After 28 km, you will arrive at the village of Fessy, and you will then tackle the second difficulty, the Col de Cou. Things will clearly get tougher here. 7 km long with an average gradient of 7.7%, it does not present a representative average. From the foot, severe ramps at 10% set the tone, alternating with less steep sections around 8/9% and short, more rolling passages. 2.5 km from the summit, new steep percentages will make another selection. A new short respite will allow you to descend to your left at the summit. In reality, you won’t truly go all the way to the Col de Cou, you’ll be a few meters short of the altitude… After a descent with five beautiful hairpins plunging back into the Léman valley, you will directly follow with the Col du Feu. We will go up another notch in difficulty. We will still be in the same order of length, with 6 km at nearly 8%. You will find a first rolling kilometer before getting to the heart of the matter with 13% over 300 m. This climb is just as irregular as that of the Col de Cou, with sections at 6 then 9/10%. The atmosphere here will be increasingly green, as you enter the mountains as you truly enter this stage.

=> SEE ALSO : the 2022 Étape du Tour, three timeless days

After 53 km, at an altitude of 1125 m, a meter less than the previous col, you will descend towards Lullin. A short descent where you will have little respite to reach into your pocket. It is after crossing this village that you will find percentages for three kilometers requiring you to pedal on a wide road conducive to regroupings of small pelotons. You will then have finished what can be called the first part of this Étape du Tour. A concentration of three difficulties of 6/7 km over 40 km on quite varied percentages. A first section where it is easy to burn cartridges. It’s never long so you can easily push yourself into the red. As with any endurance event, 4000 m of elevation gain cannot be improvised and must be managed. Trying to maintain a steady tempo in the cols is the key to finishing in good condition.

A little respite before tackling the serious stuff

We then begin the second act of this three-part play. A so-called transition section of a little over 30 kilometers that begins with the Col de la Jambaz. This is a rolling col with slopes between 3 and 4%. Only one kilometer around 6% might require the small chainring. A valley that is still as green, although you will no longer be in the valley of the same name. The mountains will be there before your eyes and call to you. Patience. Just like for managing your strength. In the descent that follows, you absolutely must not find yourself alone, because of the slope and its straight aspect. You will be on beautiful straight lines here, where staying in a group will be essential to save your strength and make it progress with a minimum of energy expenditure and as quickly as possible…

You will descend the Risse valley, a small river nestled in a rocky gorge, a steep and rocky landscape. Magnificent. It is not certain that you will be able to enjoy the scenery. Be careful on this section until you cross Saint-Jeoire, which means returning to the valley. It’s fast and can be tight, even if groups of different levels will already have formed.

Even if for this 2023 Étape du Tour the cols are not particularly high altitude, the event remains complicated with 4000 m of elevation gain over 140 km

Km 80: you will tackle the Côte de Marignier, dear to the Grand Prix du Faucigny event, part of whose roads you will use on this Étape du Tour. This very rolling climb will serve as an appetizer before arriving in Mieussy.

The terrible Ramaz-Joux Plane sequence

So here we are at the foot of the third act: the terrible Ramaz-Joux Plane sequence. As you leave Mieussy, you will turn 180° to the left at the roundabout to immediately find yourself on slopes around 8%. This col is rather simple to break down. There is a first part of 7.5 km with ramps that oscillate between 6 and 8%, to make you gain altitude and dominate the Arve valley to see the Bargy and Aravis mountain ranges. This sector, interspersed with a small descent after 2 km, breaks the rhythm a little. A rhythm on which you will have to play to reach the end of this section and continue on a difficult sector until Sommand.

After the small hamlet of Peignât d’en Haut, a hairpin bend to your right will see the slope rear up. Then follows 2 km at a 10% average gradient, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. This Col de la Ramaz will in any case be well exposed to the sun, regardless of your time of passage, if the sun is out. More slope means lower speed, so pay attention to hydration once again. You will cross the 250 m long tunnel, the one you will see after 3 km of ascent, it’s a good landmark. It is well lit, and you will need lucidity here, the slope does not let up and you will remain on percentages around 10. At the exit of the tunnel, 300 m further on, you will imagine a small gantry indicating the end of the steep part of the ascent, at the Sommand station.

You will have a little respite here with a less steep slope, around 5% for a kilometer. The scenery here is magnificent, perhaps the most beautiful panorama of this stage. Almost with a Dolomites feel. After 2.5 km on a road that regains a little percentage towards the end, you will arrive at a small lake on your left which will mark the summit of the col, at an altitude of 1611 m.

In the descent, crossing the Praz-de-Lys resort will require vigilance as the road surface is not always in good condition. The exit from the resort climbs a little (200 m) to reach the Col de la Savolière and tackle the descent to Taninges. A wide descent with a sequence of five beautiful, steep hairpins, to find a straight section and cross a gallery before arriving at Fry to take the national road connecting Taninges to Morzine via Les Gets.

After a little over 120 km, a final respite awaits you before the last difficulty of the day, the Col de Joux Plane. A valley where, as often, the wind will be important. So, as for the Col de la Jambaz, you will have to make sure you are in a group or wait for one. It is rather slightly uphill but still allows you to recover, or attack, depending on your aspirations, before tackling the Col de Joux Plane.

For this last difficulty, we invite you to reread the presentation of the col: the Col de Joux-Plane via Samoëns.

After successfully navigating the last turn to arrive in Morzine, you can be proud to have completed this mythical event. Even if for this 2023 Étape du Tour the cols are not particularly high altitude, the event remains complicated with 4000 m of elevation gain over 140 km, at the Col du Ranfolly which follows Joux Plane. An event that will require good management of your strength but will be more accessible than the 2022 edition and will see a winner who is not only a climber with shorter and lower cols but more repeated ones, so beware of good management of your strength and your preparation: a good strategy will be necessary.