It’s been seven years since Le Tour last visited the ski resort in the shadow of Mont Blanc. The finish climb kicks in hard after moving through Saint-Gervais. The first kilometres go up an unforgiving 12.9% before the route continues to climb at double digits for 1.7 kilometres. In fact this section is called the Côte de Amerands. The route then levels out for a bit, only to return to climb for 7.2 kilometres at 7.7%.
The race opens in Les Gets, a village in the Portes du Soleil ski area, and following a series of unclassified climbs – which should inspire a furious battle for the breakaway – the real uphill action begins after 75 kilometres on the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin. The 7.2 kilometres climb at 7.3% foreshadows what the race has in store in the second half.
The downhill and the unclassified Col du Marais precede two ascents in a row. Within a 10 kilometres frame the riders are to crest the Col de la Croix Fry (11.3 kilometres at 7%) and Col des Aravis (4.4 kilometres at 5.8%) before a rolling uphill of some 10 kilometres leads to Megève. The riders then fly down to Domancy for the brutal kick up on the Côte des Amerands and, subsequently, the ascent to the line.
The stage winner in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc succeeds Thierry Claveyrolat (1990), Rolf Jaermann (1992), and Romain Bardet (2016). The Frenchman attacked seven years ago from the lead group with 3 kilometres to go. In rainy conditions, he soloed to triumph and the second place on GC behind Chris Froome. Which was – two days later – also his spot on the final podium.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 15 2023 Tour de France.
Another interesting read: results 15th stage 2023 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2023 stage 15: routes, profiles, more
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Is this the 100% confirmed route?
The confirmed routes will be published in the last month before the race. Usually there are some tweaks.