Rotterdam to Barcelona

This is a long, largely southbound line across four countries: 1,679 km in 18 stages with only 5,968 m of climbing in total, which averages out at well under 350 m a day. It starts in the Dutch delta, crosses Belgium into France, follows the Saône and then the Rhône to the Mediterranean, and turns along the coast into Spain to finish in Barcelona.

The opening stage from Amsterdam through Rotterdam to Breda is as flat as anything on the tour, 133.4 km for 76 m of gain, with a low point of -48 m. Belgium is where the road first tilts: the Waterloo to Anderlues stage collects 361 m over 70.7 km with two short rises, and the following day to Couvin via Chimay adds 476 m, ending with a 1.3 km climb at 4.7% (maximum 8.1%) topping out at 302 m.

The French middle section is the hilliest part in relative terms. Couvin to Reims is 120.7 km and 869 m, the biggest single day for climbing, opening with a 2.5 km rise at 3.3% to 334 m. Chaumont to Langres is the second shortest stage at 43.8 km but packs 412 m in, including a 2.7 km climb at 4.8% (maximum 8.1%) to 461 m near the finish. The overall high point of the tour, 474 m, comes on the Langres to Dijon stage.

From Dijon the profile flattens for a long stretch. The Côte de Beaune stage to Givry gains 234 m, Givry to Villefranche-sur-Saône just 44 m over 92.9 km, and the 106 km down the Rhône through Lyon to Chanas only 62 m. The shortest day is Chanas to Tournon-sur-Rhône at 37.9 km; the longest is Tournon-sur-Rhône to Orange at 140.9 km, still with only 178 m of gain.

The coast reintroduces gradient. Sigean to Banyuls-sur-Mer has 598 m and a pitch reaching 16.2% near Port-Vendres. Banyuls-sur-Mer to l'Estartit crosses into Spain over the Col de Banyuls, with a 3.6 km climb at 3.4% (maximum 10.1%) from km 4.9 and 642 m in total. The Costa Brava stage to Lloret de Mar is the steepest overall at 787 m in 87 km, including a 3.9 km climb at 4.1% to 171 m. The run into Barcelona along the Maresme coast is flat again, 239 m over 77.3 km.

Ridden in September, temperatures ranged from 19°C in the Netherlands and at Tournon-sur-Rhône to 30°C at Nîmes and 31°C on both Catalan stages. Most days pass 30 or more places to fill bottles or eat; the exception is Givry to Villefranche-sur-Saône, where only 12 are recorded across 92.9 km, so carry more than usual.