Tour de France 2027 Route stage 11: Cluses - Les Saisies

Wednesday 14 July – Bastille Day always brings something extra to the Tour de France. This time, the riders face a gruelling route from Cluses to Les Saisies, featuring 4,750 metres of climbing over 150 kilometres.

Published on 8 November 2027

Type: mountain stage
Favourites: climbers, GC contenders

The riders climb straight from the start onto the Col de la Colombière, a brutal opener measuring 15.9 kilometres at an average gradient of 7%. They then descend to Le Grand-Bornand before tackling the Col de la Croix Fry, which adds another 7.2 kilometres of climbing, this time at 5.5%.

The Croix Fry is done and dusted after 40 kilometers, and then it's off to the foot of the Col de la Forclaz de Queige, an in-between climb of 5.1 kilometres at 8.2%. Once they hit its opening slopes with 70 kilometres to go, the decisive climbing begins. The route may descend for another 25 kilometres or so, but from there on, the route goes predominantly uphill.

First, a long, gradual climb leads to the foot of the Col du Pré, a 12.6-kilometre ascent with an average gradient of 7.8%. After a short descent and another brief climb over the Col du Méraillet, the riders descend to Villard-sur-Doron, where they hit the Montée de Bisanne. This is a formidable challenge in its own right: 12.4 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.3%. And, to add a heroic twist, the gradient reaches double figures over the final few kilometres.

Once the riders crest the Montée de Bisanne, just 4 kilometres remain. Half of that is downhill, followed by a short climb at around 6%, before the road levels out over the final 400 metres.

Starting venue Cluses must bring fond memories to both Thor Hushovd and Ben O’Connor. The Norwegian won a stage from Cluses to Bourg-en-Bresse in 2002, while the Australian triumphed in Tignes in 2021 after setting off from Cluses. Both victories came from breakaways: Hushovd after a hilly stage, O’Connor after a mountain stage.

Les Saisies never before hosted a Tour de France stage finish, although the race has passed through the ski resort on numerous occasions.

The toughest parts of the 11th stage are right at the beginning and at the end.