Stage 17. Chambéry – Voiron. 175km / 2,220m ascent. Tue 14th July

This stage feels, in a good way, like cheating; a full day of mountain scenery, but with a far more modest elevation gain than you’d expect for a ride in the Alps. Instead we ride a rolling route, overlooked by the hulking limestone crags of the Chartreuse and the Massif des Bauges.

Setting off from Chambéry, we ride alongside the gorgeous Lac du Bourget for a few kilometres, before turning into the hills and tackling the climb that accounts for over half of the day’s elevation. We’re going uphill for around 30km, but the average gradient is a reasonable 3-4%, so it shouldn’t feel too difficult, and we enjoy a rare glimpse into the interior of the Massif des Bauges, which the Tour usually only skirts on its way to somewhere else.

After whizzing our way down the hairpins back to Chambéry, we set off south into the Chartreuse range, with paragliders joining in and giving us yet more to look at. Following another, much lower col we enjoy a brief sprint out into the Rhône valley, via the tranquil riverside town of Le-Pont-de-Beauvoisin, then there’s another long drag up through the foothills, a visit to the pretty Lac de Paladru, and a fast finale, on flat and downhill roads, into our finish in Voiron, a small, pretty town to the north of Grenoble.

*LITE: Whilst this is a good opportunity to cycle a full Tour stage, for anyone who needs it, we’ll give you a lift to the first feedstop, cutting out half of the first climb of the Cote d’Engins
*only available to those who have signed up for either the Alps/Alps Lite Loop options (lite options are not designed for Grand or longer Loopers). Simply opt to ‘go lite’ the evening before the stage.

Tour logistics
Start: Chambery hotel
Finish: Voiron hotel

Stage 18. Voiron – Orcières-Merlette. 185km / 3,800m ascent. Wed 15th July

Scene of a famous showdown between Merckx and Ocaña in 1971, the climb up to Orcières-Merlette inevitably forms the centrepiece of today’s stage. But there’s plenty more uphill before we get there, via several rarely visited Alpine ascents – such as the Côte d’Engins, which we meet a few kilometres into our ride, after warming our legs up in the flat Isère Valley from Voirons.

It’s a fairly steady climb, with an average gradient of just over 5%, and no nasty surprises, and we’re treated to spectacular views of Grenoble on the descent (you may be surprised to learn that it’s France’s flattest city). From here we spend an hour or so tackling the false flat that leads us along the valley to the foot of our next climb – the Côte de Monteynard, whose gradients are similarly gentle, and whose slopes overlook the Lac de Notre-Dame de Commiers.

Our next few hours are spent following various scenic balcony roads through the steep-sided valleys of the Hautes-Alpes, overseen by ever higher peaks as we make our way towards the outrageous stack of hairpins that make up the final climb to Orcières-Merlette. This is our steepest ascent of the day, and we’re greeted by vast green Alpine meadows, and scattered chalets, as we arrive at the ski resort, and a hero’s welcome.

*LITE: We’ll give you a lift to Seyssins at 63km, making the stage a much more manageable 122km with 2,800m of climbing
*only available to those who have signed up for either the Alps/Alps Lite Loop options (lite options are not designed for Grand or longer Loopers). Simply opt to ‘go lite’ the evening before the stage.

Tour logistics
Start: Voiron hotel
Finish: Orcieres Merlette hotel

Stage 19. Gap – Alpe d’Huez. 128km / 3,500m ascent. Thu 16th July

Today’s stage is shorter than most, but don’t underestimate the challenge it brings, as there are 3,500m of ascent – and four categorised climbs – squeezed into its 128km.

The climbing starts the moment we leave Gap, with a brisk ascent out of the valley that starts at the first roundabout. It’s the Col Bayard (7.2%) followed swiftly by the even steeper Col du Noyer. Yes, it averages over 8%, but it’s also a beauty: a narrow ribbon of flawless tarmac, edging its way across the scree and strata of the mountainside, with the valley falling away beneath, and a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks. To add to the magical experience of this little-known col, the descent takes us into a magical new world, of vast green steppes and scattered pine trees.

There’s a long downhill to the picture-perfect Lac du Sautet, from which we skirt the valley for a bit, before turning back into the mountains and heading for the Col d’Ornon, via a scenic road that follows a deep valley, gradually emerging from woodlands into pastures as it approaches its apex.

And after this, there’s nothing more than a long descent to Bourg d’Oisans, and the mythical 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez, where we get to see the names of our heroes and heroines painted on the road, pass the legions of fans already setting up camp for the following week, and enjoy the experience of riding one of the most iconic climbs in cycling.

*LITE: a lift to Corpos at 55km will reduce this stage to 73km with 2,100 of climbing for Alps Loop cyclists who are saving everything for tomorrow!
*only available to those who have signed up for either the Alps/Alps Lite Loop options (lite options are not designed for Grand or longer Loopers). Simply opt to ‘go lite’ the evening before the stage.

Tour logistics
Start: Transfer to Gap
Finish: Alpe d’Huez hotel (1st of 2 night stay)

Stage 20. Bourg d’Oisans – Alpe d’Huez. 171km / 5,600m ascent. Fri 17th July

With more vertical gain than any other Tour stage within recent memory, this behemoth of a stage showcases a whole parade of the Alps’ superstar climbs, with a new take on Alpe d’Huez for the grand finale.

First we have the beautiful Col de la Croix de Fer, with its deceptively gentle gradient of 5.2%. Don’t be fooled – this average hides all manner of unpleasant surprises, and you’ll find that several kilometres of the ascent approach 10%.

Following a long descent into the Maurienne Valley, we undertake one of the most storied sequences of Alpine climbs: the Col du Télégraphe, followed by the incomparable Col du Galibier – the highest point of this year’s Tour route.

There follows over 30km of descent, and a chance to spectate this region’s glorious mountain scenery at our leisure, before a right turn takes us up the Col de Sarenne – Alpe d’Huez’s little-known B-side, making its Tour debut (if we discount 2013, where it appeared as a descent). There’s no way you won’t love this wild and beautiful climb. It’s longer than the main route up to Alpe d’Huez, and less steep overall, though it still has plenty of sections that will make you wince. As you ride through its serene Alpine pastures, listening to the marmots scuttling and whistling on the hillsides, you’ll feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of cycling’s nearby Mecca. And you’re guaranteed to feel a sense of shock when we pop out near the top of the main road, among crowds of tourists and fellow cyclists, wondering if perhaps it was all a dream…

*LITE: A lift to St Michel de Maurienne takes away 75km and 2,200m of climbing and the Col de la Croix de Fer is gone. The rest of the stage remains though; 96km and 3,400m of climbing
*only available to those who have signed up for either the Alps/Alps Lite Loop options (lite options are not designed for Grand or longer Loopers). Simply opt to ‘go lite’ the evening before the stage.

Tour logistics
Start: Alpe d’Huez hotel
Finish: Alpe d’Huez hotel