Stage 2 - 2013 Tour de France

The second stage of the Tour travelled from Bastia on the north east coast to Ajaccio on middle of the west coast via Corte, the old capital.
The riders departed from Place Saint-Nicholas and it's not long before the road starts to gently pick up and the riders turn their back on the east coast and head along the N193 to Ponte Leccia were they could see just how high Corsica's mountains go with a stunning view of the Monte Cinto massif (2,207m).
On through Ponte Leccia and to Corte where the road now starts to get steeper. There is a 8km stretch of around 5% to the Col de Belle Granaje at 723m. From here there is a fast descent into and through Venaco before the road picks up again to climb through Vivario and beyond to the Col de Campo Di Lupo. Just over 6km of about 7% including 1km of between 8-13% leaving Vivario. After the Col there's 3km of respite before a 6.5km climb through stunning scenary to the Col de Vizzavona at 1,163m which again has a km or so where the gradient varies between 8-13%.
Over the Col and there is a steep and narrow jaw dropping descent towards the port of Ajaccio.