Les Gets, start town of the 15th stage of the Tour de France

In the world of cycling, few events rival the prestige and excitement of the Tour de France. Known for its dramatic breakaways and demanding mountain climbs, this legendary competition passed through the Portes du Soleil area once again. Between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, Les Gets served as the official start town of the Tour de France 2023 for the first time in its history, on July 16, 2023, during Stage 15 whose finish line was set in Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.

Les Gets and cycling

After hosting the Critérium du Dauphiné three times, the resort of Les Gets prepared for this major event with enthusiasm, ready to welcome both world-class athletes and fans of the Grande Boucle. The Tour de France had often passed through Les Gets, particularly during stages ending in nearby Morzine, but it had never before hosted the official start village and its events. This time it became a reality, a fitting milestone considering the resort’s long-standing cycling tradition. In 2016, Alberto Contador won the prologue of the Critérium du Dauphiné here, marking his last individual time trial victory. In 2021, Ukrainian rider Mark Padun claimed one of his two stage wins during the same event.

Les Gets is also widely recognised as a mountain biking destination. In 2019, Mathieu van der Poel won a World Cup race here, and the year before, the resort hosted the Mountain Bike World Championships. That edition saw French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévot take home two gold medals, while Swiss legend Nino Schurter captured his tenth cross-country world title. Schurter briefly tried road racing in 2014 with the Orica-Greenedge team before focusing again on mountain biking.

Stage 15 of the Tour de France 2023

Stage 15 of the Tour de France 2023 was a demanding mountain stage that began in Les Gets. With its location at the heart of the French Alps, Les Gets provided the perfect starting point for a route designed to test the riders’ endurance and determination. Over the course of 180 km, cyclists passed through the centre of the village, right by our BARNES Les Gets real estate agency, a proud supporter of major sporting events like the Tour de France and partner of the Golf Club des Gets. The peloton then continued through Cluses, Bonneville, Annecy-le-Vieux, Faverges and Megève.

The course presented a demanding mix of terrain, combining flat sections, steep climbs and technical descents that challenged riders from start to finish.

Recap of Stage 15

Les Gets, as the official start town of the fifteenth stage, generated tremendous enthusiasm among the public. Spectators gathered in large numbers to watch both the caravan and the riders as they set off. Fans of cycling and the Tour de France lined the mountain passes as well as the village centre to witness the spectacle.

After 179 kilometres and three mountain passes between Les Gets and Saint-Gervais at the foot of Mont Blanc, Wout Poels (Bahrain - Victorious) took victory ahead of his rivals. In the general classification, Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard retained the yellow jersey ahead of Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, with only ten seconds still separating the two favourites.