Tour de France 2023 Favourites stage 15: Climb fest in shadow of Mont Blanc

foto: Cor VosThe 15th stage of Le Tour is a race with five KOM climbs and an elevation gain of over 4,500 metres. So there's no doubt about the skillset of the winner - he's an hors catégorie climber. Who are the major contenders to win the race from Ports du Soleil to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc? (Slideshow route/profile)

The riders climb from the start on an unclassified hill to enter the only flat section of the day from the descent. A series of three unclassified climbs appears after 31.5 kilometres – Col des Fleuries (8.9 kilometres at 4.9%), Côte de Aviernoz (3.4 kilometres at 4.4%), and Côte de Annecy-le-Vieux (1.3 kilometres at 6.4%).

Following a false flat leading to the intermediate sprint in Bluffy and a short descent the KOM action opens on the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin (7.2 kilometres at 7.3%). The Forclaz de Montmin is a bit isolated, but the uphill action really intensifies after the Col de Marais (10.3 kilometres at 3.2%, unclassified). Within 66 kilometres the riders are to conquer the Col de la Croix Fry (11.3 kilometres at 7%), Col des Aravis (4.4 kilometres at 5.8%), Côte des Amerands (2.7 kilometres at 10.9%), and the climb to the line (7 kilometres at 7.7%).

The route lends itself perfectly for a grand battle between the GC stars, although a successful breakaway is always a possibility in cycling. Yet, we expect – and hope for – a compelling GC fight for both the stage win and the yellow jersey in the shadow of Europe’s highest mountain, the Mont Blanc.

Favourites 15th stage 2023 Tour de France

*** Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar
** Mikel Landa, Michael Woods, Giulio Ciccone, Thibaut Pinot
* Ben O’Connor, Dylan Teuns, Wout Poels, Maxim Van Gils, Matteo Jorgenson

Another interesting read: route 15th stage 2023 Tour de France.