Lake Geneva shapes the opening kilometres of this stage. The route follows the southern shore through Évian-les-Bains and Meillerie to Saint-Gingolph, where the French-Swiss border sits directly by the water. From there, it leaves the lake and heads through the Rhône valley towards Aigle. The character changes on the climb into the Vaud Alps: above Villars-sur-Ollon, the road reaches Col de la Croix, with views towards the cliffs and gypsum formations above Les Diablerets. After the descent comes Col du Pillon, the crossing into Saanenland. Beyond Gsteig and Gstaad, the landscape becomes broader, greener and distinctly Bernese. The final section runs via Saanenmöser, Zweisimmen and the Simmental towards Thun.
