The second stage will be the queen stage, distances: 118 km without Mont Aigoual with shortcut, or 129 km without Mont Aigoual but through Gorges du Tapoul, or 145 km with Gorges du Tapoul and Mont Aigoual.
You cycle from La Garde-Guerin to Meyrueis in the Cevennes and you climb one of the highest passes in the Cevennes: Col de Finiels.
On the approach to Col de Finiels, we leave the main road twice through the valley of the river l'Altier (and get back on it as well), cycling on narrow roads through beautiful nature. It also means some extra altitude (a total of about 300 m) compared to staying on the D901.
The route then goes through Gorges du Tapoul in an ascending direction to about 1200 meters (you can see this as the first part of the climb to Mont Aigoual). The route remains on a plateau and then descends towards the stopover place Meyrueis (Hotel Family & Spa (of the Logis chain)).
Those who want to climb Mont Aigoual continue on for 8 km to the top at 1565 meters (and also the same 8 km back).

By the way, the route for those who do not want to climb Mont Aigoual can also be shortened by 11 km by not cycling through the Gorges du Tapoul but via the D996. You then get to climb the Col de Perjuret (which saves about 200 meters of altitude compared to the road through Gorges du Tapoul).

1 km from the overnight address lies the castle of Ayres, worth a visit after you arrive in Meyrueis.