The course for the 2018 edition of L'Etape du Tour has been announced this morning at the official unveiling of the 2018 Tour de France route.
>> Read our full route analysis for the 2018 Etape du Tour here >>
The 2018 Etape will follow the course of Stage 10 of the Tour de France. Taking place on Sunday 8 July, the Etape returns to the French Alps for a fourth year running with a start in the picturesque lakeside town of Annecy.
The Etape du Tour started in Annecy as recently as 2013, but while that year's edition headed south and west of the lake 2018 will see riders head east for a rollercoaster 169km course finishing in the ski resort of Le Grand-Bornand.
Along the way they will face four key climbs, starting with the Col de la Croix Fry at 1477m above sea level. Next up is the Col de Glieres (1390m), and a surprise awaits at the summit as riders will face 2km of unpaved gravel track on the plateau.
After descending back into the valley, the next climb is the Col de Romme (1297m) before a short descent to rest the legs ahead of the final climb of the day, the Col de la Colombiere (1618m). From the top of the Colombiere it's a 12km descent to the finish at Le Grand-Bornand.
It's a 32km ride back to Annecy from Le Grand-Bornand, the good news is it's mostly downhill. A quick look at Google maps would suggest Alex or Thônes - the "capital of reblochon" - as strategic locations for those looking to split the distance between start and finish.
Entries for the 2018 Etape du Tour will open Monday 23 October.
Check out Joe Saumarez Smith's 2018 Etape du Tour route analysis.
Read Andy Lulham's 2017 Etape du Tour report
Read Dan Baker's 2017 Etape du Tour report
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