The first part of this stage is the same as the one run between 2018 and 2020 (La Cabanette - Col de Braus), including the famous starting downhill portion, southward-looking and filled with 16 hairpins. After a junction, the uphill portion heads to Col de l’Orme (1000m) and Col de l’Ablé (1149m), before another downhill portion leads crews to the access route for Col de Braus (D54/D2204 Junction), with four more spectacular hairpins on the way. The second part of the stage is brand new, with the race sequence of Cols de Braus (1002m), Saint-Jean (642m) and Castillon (706m).

This stage starts with the first portion of the stage set between Puget-Théniers and La Penne in 2021, with a very quick and large uphill section, but several hairpins, heading for Col Saint-Raphaël (876m). The second part takes up the very rapid start of "Col Saint-Raphaël / Tourette du Château", a stage run in the 90s, until the crossroads of the downhill road to the village of Saint-Antonin. Many spectacular hairpins, after the village, are a specificity of this stage.

Contested for the very first time in 2021, this stage is magnificent in terms of route, topography and environment! It all starts - given this year from the village of Briançonnet - with a series of superb quick turns heading for Col du Buis (1196m). Then, the first part of the downhill section is vertiginous and very damp, with a major risk of black ice at this time of year. The second part has higher pace until drivers reach Val-de-Chalvagne, before starting the uphill portion to Col de Félines (930m). The first part of the downhill portion is vertiginous, very wet and very often icy at this time of the year. The second part, which is brand new, is more pacy between Val-de-Chalvagne and Entrevaux on the route de la Clue, just as treacherous as the first part, along Ravin-de-Chalvagne which also has a high risk of frost.

The first part of 5 kilometers is relatively straight and fast on Le Chaffaut’s road, along the Bléone River. However, the end of the stage is identical to the classic of the 90s (between 1988 and 1994) from the Puimichel road. A narrow uphill road to Col de Puimichel (807m) before a hilly finish, much less twisty, wider and faster. This stage was nightly run in 2000.

This is exactly the SS1 of 2017 in reverse! The road is winding but not very complex from the start to the crossroads of the Ubraye road. The climb to Col de Laval (1100m) is then very rolling, as is the downhill portion towards Val-de-Chalvagne. The end of the stage takes place on the final section of SS5-8 on the very tricky La Clue road, along Ravin-de-Chalvagne which has a high risk of frost.

Strictly identical to SS1, with this unprecedented start from Camp de Millo for this monument of Monte-Carlo Rally. The climb, with a high percentage to the village of La Bollène-Vésubie is very narrow, with two spectacular hairpins to negotiate. The competitors then take the main road to Col de Turini (1607 m), a 12-km climb without any major difficulty, due to its southward-looking geographical orientation...