From Porto-Vecchio, the route climbs out of the coastal plain early. The first part follows the road toward Ospedale into the mountains, with pine trees, granite, views back to the bay and a noticeably cooler feel than down by the sea. After that, the stage stays inland for a long time. Through the Alta Rocca, the route crosses high villages, wooded sections, open crests and small roads that are rarely fully flat. Around Aullène and Petreto-Bicchisano, the day becomes rougher: little traffic, many bends and long traverses between slope and valley. Only late in the stage does the route lose elevation more clearly. The final kilometres lead along Corsica’s western side toward Ajaccio. After a day with plenty of mountain riding, little coastline and constant changes in rhythm, the stage finishes back in a larger town by the sea.
