The day's course is completely new, it starts at the Bellecin water sports centre and heads towards Lons le Saunier, the prefecture of the Jura département, and into the heart of the Jura vineyards and its magnificent “reculées”, which, formed during the ice age, are narrow, deep valleys bordered by
cliffs, the perfect area for punchers and climbers. It’s here where you find the famous “vin jaune” (yellow wine) and vin de paille (straw-coloured wine) of the Jura département and some of France’s most beautiful villages such as Baume les Messieurs and Château Chalon.
After the remarkable site of the "reculées" of Baume les Messieurs, the route climbs back up to a first plateau to join the Jura lake route. A veritable bike trip beside the lakes as this is the Emerald land and its lakes of Chalain, Vernois, Narlay and Ilay, that is a real pleasure to behold, but you will need to be fit. Before returning to Bellecin, the route climbs up to the stage’s second plateau at the gateway to the Haut Jura via the Col de Joux (1026 metres above sea-level) and the village of Prénovel. The course then plunges down to lake Clairvaux and on to lake Vouglans by the north, the port of Saisse de Pont-de-Poitte, that is just 15 km from the Bellecin water sports centre, the end of this incredible marathon stage.