Top tips for watching Le Tour in Morzine & Les Gets

The town is buzzing with excitement as not only will it be the last day of climbing for the riders, before the ceremonial stage in Paris, but we’ll also know for sure who this year’s winner is. The town is decorated in red spots for the occasion and there’s a real sense of anticipation.

It’s going to be hugely busy in both Morzine and Les Gets on the 23rd July, with people coming from all over the world to watch the event. There will be road closures in place so it’s not going to be easy to navigate your way around. However, we know the route like the back of our hand and have been working hard to find the best spots for you to watch the riders from.

The penultimate stage starts in Megeve before heading over the Col des Aravis, Col de la Columbiere, Col de la Ramaz and Col de Joux Plane. It passes through a number of towns very near to Morzine including Samoens, Taninges and Meiussy. The riders then have a long descent via the Ranfoilly Bowl (which links Morzine and Les Gets) and on into the centre of Morzine. The stage itself is 146 km and boasts over 3000 metres of climbing so there really is not shortage of places to catch a glimpse of the riders.

Your challenge comes in working out how to get there to watch…

Hiking

It’s always good to watch the riders ascending a col because it takes them longer to pass you - unlike on a descent when they fly past you within a second. If you don’t mind a tricky hike then this could be a good option for you. The Joux Plane is the most gruelling ascent of the day bringing riders from Samoens to Morzine on an 11km climb at an average of 9 percent. You can get to the top of the Joux Plane by walking from Morzine via the Nyon plateau and continuing up to the peak of the mountain. You will then be able to find a spot along the last kilometre of the climb. It’s a big walk and is fairly steep so expect to be hiking for around 3 hours before reaching the summit. The caravan is expected to hit the top of the Joux Plane at around 15:05 and the first riders somewhere around 16:30. Similarly, if you don’t mind a big walk then finding your way to the top of the Col de la Ramaz and Praz-de-Lys could be a good option. Riders will be passing the peak of the Ramaz at around 15:30.

Lift access

If hiking that far doesn’t sound like your cup of tea then you could always get a pedestrian pass on the lifts for the day. That’s how many of the spectators reached the top to watch the Etape du Tour. You can get access to the Ranfoilly bowl by the Chavannes lift from Les Gets, the Pleney lift from Morzine (1 hour walk) and the Charniaz lift from the Nyon plateau. You would then enjoy a short, easy walk to the second short ascent that comes after the peak of the Joux Plane before the descent into Morzine. Similarly, you can get the Nyon lift and walk from the plateau, which would cut around 2 hours off your hike. Find your way with a lift map.

Mountain Biking

You could also access the Joux Plane via the lifts on Mountain bike. Why not spend the day exploring Les Gets on your bike before heading up the Chavannes lift to enjoy watching the riders come in? The road between Les Gets and Morzine will be open which gives you the flexibility to park in Les Gets and then return back to Morzine by car once the roads have re-opened.

Road Biking

Because of road closures it will of course be pretty difficult to access some of the Tour de France route by bike however there’s no reason you can’t make a day of it and go for a ride before accessing parts of the course from alternative points. You could try cycling the Col de l'Encrenaz from Morzine then dropping to the base of the Ramaz to watch the riders descend to Taninges. You could also try cycling towards Mieussy via the Col de Jambaz and Onnion where you should be able to join the edge of the Ramaz climb. You can then race back to Morzine to see if you can arrive back in town before the tour riders who will then be heading off to battle the Joux Plane.

Driving

A couple of car parks are being reserved for a park and ride system in Morzine which might be a good option if you’re hoping to watch the stage finish at the tourist office square. The Prodains and Nyon car parks are being run on a first come first served basis but they will be well worth trying. From Nyon it’s a beautiful, short, flat walk along the river into town if you don’t fancy hopping on the bus. You’ll also come out right at the bottom of the Rue du Bourg, which will be the sprint finish right to the finish line. You could also leave your car a little out of town and ride or walk along the river from Saint Jean d’Aulps or Montriond into Morzine. You’ll come out at the Palais des Sports, which is just a few minutes from the centre of town. The first riders are expected to arrive at the finish line in Morzine at 16:49.

There’s no doubt it’ll be a busy day in Morzine and Les Gets but it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere and well worth being a part of. Our advice is to choose your spot early, bring a picnic and make a day of it. That’s certainly what we’ll be doing!

Find the scheduled times riders are expected on the different parts of stage 20.