Roanne is a small town on the river Loire. The Tour de France visited the town once before, also for a stage start. In 2008 the race went to Montluçon, where Sylvain Chavanel won from the breakaway.
This time the riders head for the Beaujolais countryside to finish in Belleville, on the banks of that other main river in France, the Rhône. To get from a to b the riders traverse rugged terrain.
The first KOM is the Côte de Thizy-les-Bourg, a 4.3 kilometres at 5.6% with its summit at kilometre 20.5. Via the Col des Ecorbans (2.1 kilometres at 6.9%) and a series of unclassified hurdles the race enters the the second half on the Col de la Casse Froide (5.2 kilometres at 6.1%). The riders then fly down to the foot of the Col de la Croix Montmain (5.5 kilometres at 6.1%) before continuing to the Col de la Croix Rosier, which is a slightly harder climb: 5.3 kilometres at 7.6%. Moreover, there are time bonuses of 8, 5 and 2 seconds available at the top.
Still almost 30 kilometres to go after the Croix Rosier summit sprint. Most of it goes downhill, although there are some small obstacles and several flat sections to handle as well.
Belleville-en-Beaujolais never before hosted a Tour de France stage finish.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the first three on the Col de la Croix Rosier get 8, 5 and 2 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 12 2023 Tour de France.
Another interesting read: results 12th stage 2023 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2023 stage 12: routes, profiles, more
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