Leaving the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, the route points straight upward into the Jura ridges without any time for a warm-up. The heaviest climbing is concentrated within the first section before the road levels out onto expansive, rolling plateaus. Dense pine forests and limestone formations dominate the scenery along the Swiss-French border. A key feature of this stage is the Doubs River, with the route tracking its winding course for a significant stretch. The terrain remains consistently rolling, defined by short, punchy climbs rather than long passes. After crossing into France, a final descent brings you down into the quiet valley basin of Saint-Hippolyte.
