L’ÉTAPE DU TOUR DE FRANCE 2024 TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF THE NICE REGION

Registration opens on 31st October 2023 at 16.00 (CET)

The 32nd edition of L’Étape du Tour de France will take place on 7 th July 2024, between Nice and the Col de la Couillole pass.

• 138 km with 4,600 m of climbing over four passes are on the programme.

• This stage allows you to enjoy the Tour de France experience on the leading cyclosportive in Europe and the only one on closed roads.

• Ride through the heart of the Métropole Nice - Côte - d’Azur region, in the tracks of the greatest riders, from Louison Bobet to Primoz Roglic.

• Registration opens on Tuesday 31st October at 16.00 on the time to platform.

For many, it is the most important event of the year. It is a day that they spend months preparing for and that serves as motivation to get the bike out of the garage and get out on the road, whatever the conditions. On 7 th July 2024, for its 32nd edition, L’Étape du Tour de France will take several thousands of cycling enthusiasts along the roads of the Alpes - Maritimes, between Nice and the Col de la Couillole pass. Over a distance of 138 km, with 4,600 m of climbing, on fully closed roads and in unique conditions, they will follow the same route that the Tour de France pack will take on 20th July, during the 20th and penultimate stage of the Tour.

After several kilometres northwards on leaving Nice, the road will rise up quickly to the category 2 Col de Braus pass and its renowned hairpin bends that open up panoramic views over magnificent landscapes and the Mediterranean sea on the horizon. After this 10-km ascent at an average gradient of 6.6%, including a few sections at more than 10%, the riders will drop down into Sospel where Place Saint - Michel will remind French cinema buffs of the settings of great films such as Le Masque de Fer (The Iron Mask) or Fanfan la Tulipe.

The riders will hardly have time to take this in before the effort ramps up intensely again with the first slopes of the category 1 Col de Turini pass, the preferred “playground” of all the region’s cyclosportives for its 20.7-km climb at a gradient of 5.7%. The Tour de France has already passed over it four times, with Louison Bobet the first rider to lead to reach its summit, in 1948. In 2019, Colombian Egan Bernal captured the Yellow Jersey on its slopes on Paris - Nice. However, most of the riders on L' Étape du Tour de France will take the time to benefit from the many viewpoints that can be found all along the climb.

The peloton will then head for the Vésubie valley, an area once again hard hit by flooding this autumn before crossing through Roquebillière and then Saint - Martin - Vésubie towards the Col de la Colmiane pass (7.5-km long at a gradient of 7.1%), which has hosted the finish to stages three times on Paris - Nice. At the summit, which will welcome the Tour de France for the fourth time, the riders will have already covered almost 100 kilometres. The participants will then discover the Mercantour National Park, passing through sublime villages like Saint - Sauveur - sur - Tinée, with its old houses in dark red stone. They will be able to take advantage of the descent to regain some strength before the final push: a 15.7-km climb at 7.1% towards the finishing line, at the Col de la Couillole pass, at an altitude of 1,678 m. The climb is regular in nature, often through gorges of ochre coloured rocks, with little respite but wonderful views, especially around the village of Roubion. The participants would do well to drink them in before the last kilometres and this summit, which the Tour de France climbed twice in the 1970s and which has also hosted stage finishes on Paris - Nice two times.

Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme’s tips

“Although the distance for this stage seems reasonable, it would be a mistake to think that this 32nd edition of L’Étape du Tour de France will be less difficult than those that have taken place in the Alps, in particular. With four ascensions and total climbing of 4,600 m, with descents that require maximum care and concentration and with few moments of respite, the participants will have to be well prepared and especially careful at managing their effort. Good luck to them over the eight months of preparation before the big day”.