After Bollène, the Rhône stays within reach, but the stage soon chooses the quieter lines of Drôme Provençale. Around Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and La Garde-Adhémar, pale stone villages, old walls and open views across vineyards and fields set the tone. Further north, the route becomes more rolling: Allan, Sauzet and Marsanne add pine trees, wooded slopes and small roads away from the main corridor. Via Allex and Étoile-sur-Rhône, the ride gradually returns towards Valence.
