This mountain stage departed east from La Mure. With racing starting at Sousville, the peloton continued through Valbonnais before turning north at Entraigues. The riders then headed into the category 2 climb of the Col d'Ornon at , and then descended to an intermediate sprint at Allemont. The race continued climbing north and then east, into the Hors catégorie climb of the Col de la Croix de Fer at . After descending east and then north to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, the riders continued in the valley south-east to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. The race then went south-west into the category 1 ascent of the Col du Télégraphe at , with a partial descent south to Valloire. The route then immediately ascended into the Hors catégorie Col du Galibier, for the Souvenir Henri Desgrange. The riders then descended south-east through the uncategorised Col du Lautaret, and Le Monêtier-les-Bains, to the finish line at Serre Chevalier.