He recently recovered from a stiff cramp and set his sights on a challenging period through the Jura massif and the Alps, where four difficult days lie ahead, each more demanding than the last.
The opening stage covers 151.8 kilometers starting in Annemasse, with a route that threads through Morzine by three premium climbs and a standout descent on the Joux Plane. The descent finishes on a narrow, technical 12-kilometer road that tests riders who push the pace too far too soon.
Pogacar trails the yellow jersey by 9 seconds in the Tour de France
The peloton presses on, a tireless roller coaster that will accumulate 4,100 meters of climbing, testing teams and riders who have held firm for two weeks. It is a stage set to shape the general classification and potentially create cracks in the GC contenders if misjudgments surface amid the hectic organization and fatigue that builds with every kilometer.
In a race where battles are everywhere, the confrontation between Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia remains the defining contrast. Unlike the Vosges, the Alps introduce a harsher start—with mountains that invite attacks, demand tempo, and sap the riders’ energy as the Alps unfold their hard truths.
Col de Cou and Col de Freu, both first-class barriers, are still distant from the finish but will begin to take their toll on a day that looks unforgettable. The riders start climbing 87 kilometers from the start; El Ramaz is a 13.9-kilometer ascent averaging 7.1 percent, with rough ramps that can unsettle the field and keep the battle alive as the fireworks continue.
The day’s main draw is Joux Plane, an 11.6-kilometer climb at an 8.5 percent gradient. After conquering the prior climbs, the peloton will be unable to hide their cards on this decisive ascent.
The last ascent
The venerable climb that has become part of Tour folklore offers multiple options and no-rest sections that can lead to dramatic crashes while also enabling bold attacks in almost every corner. The riders face the thirteenth ascent of this stage in a location that makes logistics tricky and tight. Yet the climb remains a narrow road surrounded by tree tunnels, a scenic and claustrophobic path to Morzine, a traditional alpine stop for the Tour.
The winners of past stages who summited Morzine include memorable climbers such as Ángel Arroyo in 1984 and Eduardo Chozas in 1987, Marco Pantani and Richard Virenque in 1997. In 2000, a number of future champions stood atop the podium on this route. The most recent visit in 2016 saw Jarlinson Pantano of Colombia come to the front, but Ion Izagirre seized the stage win in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, marking his first Tour stage win. This edition reinforces a clear lesson: the summit, as well as the descent, often decides the stage’s fate and can invite sharp, critical scrutiny from riders’ unions and teams alike.
Riders will note that the next summit is once again the launchpad for victory, and the descent that follows will be watched closely for its potential to influence the GC as much as the uphill grind did. The plan for Stage 2 features a second mountain day, this time toward Mont-Blanc with a first-class summit, followed by two other similarly challenging climbs. After that, the rest day arrives, and the second half of the massif appears, shaping what could be decisive in this Tour.
Stage 4: Annemasse – Morzine, 151.8 km
Start time: 13:20 (11:20 GMT)
Expected finish: 17:33 (15:33 GMT)
The day’s climbs include Col de Saxel at 4.6 percent over 4.3 kilometers, 133.1 kilometers from the finish, Col de Cou at 7.4 percent over 7 kilometers, 116.5 kilometers from the finish, and Col du Feu at 5.8 percent over 7.8 kilometers, 99.1 kilometers from the finish. The Ramaz ascent spans 13.9 kilometers at 7.1 percent, remaining 50.2 kilometers from the finish. The Joux Plane, a private road section, sits at 8.5 percent for 11.6 kilometers from the finish, presenting the final major test before the riders descend toward Morzine and the Alps’ finale of the day.