A finish of world-class difficulty

The second week of the Tour de France culminates in a brutal mountain stage, introducing a new and formidable challenge: the Plateau de Solaison. This unprecedented climb promises to be a decisive battleground for the overall classification contenders as they navigate the 183.9-kilometer route from Champagnole.

Before reaching the summit finish, riders will contend with three other categorized climbs, including the particularly steep Col de la Croisette, which boasts 4.7 kilometers at an average gradient of 11.2%. The Plateau de Solaison itself presents an 11.3-kilometer ascent with an average gradient of 9%, featuring ramps exceeding 10% in its initial sections.

This stage marks the first mountaintop finish of the race and is expected to test the riders' endurance and climbing prowess. The challenging terrain, offering spectacular views of Mont Blanc, has previously been featured in the Tour de l'Avenir and the Critérium du Dauphiné, with notable victories by riders like Miguel Ángel López, Jakob Fuglsang, Jonas Vingegaard, and Isaac del Toro.

The demanding profile of this stage, with a total elevation gain of 3,950 meters, is poised to create significant time gaps and potentially reshape the general classification as the race heads towards Paris.