Tour de France 2023: The Unmissable Stage in Morzine
For the 22nd time since 1948 Morzine is hosting a stage of this year’s Tour de France 2023!
This is the 110th edition of the world famous race and it’s the event of the year that cycling enthusiasts won’t miss for the world (us being no exception here at The Farmhouse!).
Having been a departure city last year, this year our beautiful station in Morzine will welcome the cyclists as they arrive after a gruelling mountain stage from Annemasse.
And to top it off, our neighbour Les Gets will have the honour of experiencing the start of the next stage for the first time!
This exciting allocation to Morzine brings everyone the opportunity to experience some intense emotions and incredible memories this summer in Haute-Savoie, on the 15th and 16th of July!
Tour de France 2023 Route: Haute-Savoie in the spotlight on July 15 and 16
July 15th of 2023 will see the arrival of the peloton in the Alps for the start of the tour’s famous mountain stages. The riders will begin the 14th stage of the Tour de France in the commune of Annemasse in the Haute-Savoie.
On this route they will face the tough ascent of four Portes du Soleil passes, including the legendary Col de la Ramaz and Col de Joux Plane, before they take their breathtaking descent towards Morzine.
Excitingly, on the 9th of July (6 days before the arrival of the Tour de France) amateur athletes will be offered the privilege to test out the route of stage 14.
The 16,000 cyclists expected to attend this exceptional day will get to experience the same conditions as the professionals and take advantage of the closed roads, exclusively reserved for them.
It will be a real challenge that we look forward to experiencing greatly here at The Farmhouse!
Annemasse – Morzine: 14th stage of the Tour de France 2023
Riders with serious ambition look forward to them and the challengers anticipate their importance: the mountain stages of the Tour de France guarantee an exceptional spectacle of sheer athleticism and magnificent landscape!
Departing from Annemasse (470m above sea level), the cyclists will cover 152 km of mountain roads before reaching Morzine. This will see them face four passes renowned for their high level of difficulty and a total of 4,200 metres of elevation gain.
The first climb of the stage will be the Col de Cou, taking the riders up to 1,116 metres above sea level over the distance of 5 km and with an average gradient of 7.4%.
This will be followed by the ascent of an unprecedented climb in the Tour de France, the Col de Feu. High above Lake Geneva, this is a 5.8 km ascent where cyclists will face 7.8% gradient of elevation.
Next, the peloton will encounter the famous Col de la Ramaz; over 13.9 km in distance with an average of 7.1% gradient, the summit will find the riders at 1,619 metres above sea level.
Finally, the last ascent of the stage will be the dreaded Col de Joux Plane and its 11.6 km climb at an 8.5% average gradient, whose reputation is second to none.
These statistics are enough to give cold sweats to even the spectators of the Tour de France 2023, whose encouragement will obviously be welcomed by the riders!
Les Gets, departure town of the 15th stage of the Tour de France 2023
Another fantastic part of this year’s Tour de France is that our neighbour, Les Gets, has been selected as the starting station of the 15th stage of the race.
The 180 km long route will take the cyclists to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc and they will cross several major cities of Haute-Savoie on their way. Some of these cities will include Cluses, Bonneville, Annecy-le-Vieux, Faverges and the luxurious resort of Megève.
If you choose to stay in Morzine over the 15th and 16th of July you are set to be doubly satisfied by an extremely exciting and memorable stay!
Our advice to make the most of the Tour de France passage through Morzine
Due to road closures on race day, we advise that you arrive in good time in order to find the best spot to spectate. We recommend the best place to view the race is on a climb or a ‘false flat’, this way the peloton will be moving at a slower yet exciting pace that you can follow.
If you watch the tour on a downhill section the riders will whizz by before you get a chance to blink – unless you’re on a bend that forces them to slow down.
As a celebrated national holiday, each stage of the Tour de France begins with a parade. During the parades music will play and advertising teams will hand out gifts, creating a friendly atmosphere ready for memories to be made with family and friends.
The supply zone is also a great place to be if you are with family and children, as you will likely be able to pick up souvenirs dropped by the riders!
Speed lovers will be able to settle on the summits, where the cyclists will face their greatest challenges. Clashes and competitive spirit is guaranteed up here, despite the distance from the finish line.
Wherever you do choose to spectate, remember to bring good walking shoes because you won’t be able to access the route by car. The day can be a long one so remember to bring a hat, sunscreen, a windbreaker as well as water and a picnic so you can fully enjoy the moment.
Finally, health & safety requires you to watch your children closely, keep your distance from passing cyclists and enjoy the race with your eyes and not through your smartphone. This way your experience will be even more remarkable!
