This stage climbs straight from the coast into the mountains. From Solenzara, the road rises through the valley toward the Bavella massif, first steadily, then more sharply. The river, tight bends, wooded sections and pale rock walls shape the long ascent to the Col de Bavella. At the top, the Aiguilles de Bavella dominate the view: granite needles, pine trees and one of Corsica’s most distinctive road passes. After the pass, the route continues through Zonza into the Alta Rocca. The riding stays uneven, with small villages, dry-stone walls, chestnut trees and repeated short climbs. Via Levie and Carbini, the road slowly loses elevation before turning southeast toward the coast. The finish into Porto-Vecchio feels warmer, lower and more built-up than the mountain section before it.
