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Stage by stage
stage 4 - La Motte-Servolex 
Mâcon
173.5 km
Thursday 9 June
Mâcon
173.5 km
Thursday 9 June
En ligne - A sporting perspective
Bernard Thévenet:
« We had to please everybody, so here is the sprinters’ stage ! No sticky patch in this stage, with a finish on the banks of the Saone river, one kilometre before the finish of the 2006 Tour de France stage won by Matteo Tosatto. »
La Motte-Servolex
View of the town centre, Avenue Théodore ReinachPhoto credit: the Town of La Motte-Servolex
The fourth largest town in Savoie and the second largest in the urban area of Chambéry, La Motte-Servolex is the administrative centre of the canton and comprises a main market town and 14 hamlets scattered across the slopes of the Epine Mountains. The area, which varies in altitude from 241 to 1,441 metres, is divided into three equal urban, agricultural and woodland zones. The town, which is home to approximately 800 companies, hosts a number of seasonal, sporting and community events, as well as around 140 active associations. Groups dedicated to theatre, dance, world music, etc. feature on the cultural calendar, whilst contemporary art has its own dedicated area, in the form of La Conciergerie. La Motte-Servolex also counts sustainable development high on its list of priorities and is, in particular, the base for the “Objective: Zero Pesticides” convention. The town’s environmental activities have already won it several prizes relating to biodiversity and renewable energy.
Mâcon
16th century timber-frame housePhoto credit: City of Mâcon – Patrick Georget
A city on a human scale, Mâcon is proud of the Mediterranean touch embodied by the colourful façades of the buildings which line the banks of the River Saône and the countless terraces, cafés and restaurants bustling on its quays. Events, culture and heritage – Mâcon has all the advantages of a city which has found the right balance between an energetic philosophy and a relaxed way of life. Of the many meeting points on offer, the Esplanade Lamartine, named after the renowned poet Alphonse de Lamartine, is particularly lively during the summer season. A stone’s throw away, you’ll find France’s third largest river marina as well as the “Blue Way”, a path reserved for cyclists, and various restaurants that are bound to please fans of snails, frogs and fried foods. If strolling around getting a feel for the city’s history sounds more appealing, head for the city centre to discover the Hotel Senecé, the Apothecary of the Hôtel-Dieu and St. Vincent’s Cathedral, or simply to wander through the traboules, narrow passageways which are typical of the region.