After the Jura this Saturday between Dole and Lausanne, the Tour de France peloton will leave Swiss territory via the foothills of the Alps to reach Aigle in Châtel.
The Tour de France will seriously begin to gain altitude! After a first explanation in the Vosges at La Super Planche des Belles Filles then a crossing of the Jura this Saturday, the Alps will begin to slip under the wheel of the riders on the occasion of the 9th stage, 192.9 kilometers long between Aigle and Châtel. While the start of the stage will be given near the Center Mondial du Cyclisme, the headquarters of the Union Cycliste Internationale, the route is divided into two parts. The first is a 153 kilometer long loop around the town of Aigle before departing from it to return to France. After crossing Montreux, known for its comedy festival, and Vevey, the Côte de Bellevue (4.3km at 4% average) will be a first opportunity for backpackers to escape. Unless the teams of sprinters padlock the race until the intermediate sprint of Semsales, at kilometer 56.5.
An already demanding course
It is then that the serious things will begin. First of all, the Col des Mosses (13.3km at 4.1% average) will be on the program, very quickly followed by the Col de la Croix (8.1km at 7.6% average). It will then be time to dive into a descent of almost 20 kilometers towards Ollon then Aigle. After passing the Center Mondial du Cyclisme a second time, the peloton will turn left, contrary to the start of the stage, in order to reach French territory. A border which will be crossed a little less than nine kilometers from the finish, after having climbed the Pas de Morgins (15.4km at 6.1% on average). It will then be time to reach Châtel and the finish line after a last rising false flat. A course that could allow a strong breakaway to resist the peloton until the end or a strong rider to isolate himself in the last difficulty to seek the stage victory. The peloton will then be able to enjoy a well-deserved day of rest, before getting to the heart of the matter concerning the Alps.