The road climbs soon after leaving Nice, lifting the ride above the bays of the Côte d’Azur. Èze’s medieval houses cluster on their rocky hill, while La Turbie’s Roman Trophy of Augustus rises above the village rooftops. A descent leads to Menton and the Italian border, followed by Ventimiglia, Bordighera and the palm-lined seafront of Sanremo. Further east, the route threads through Imperia’s harbour districts, with beaches and densely built seaside towns between the headlands. Cervo’s Baroque church stands above a close-packed hillside of houses. Beyond Capo Mele, the road drops towards Laigueglia and the long sandy bay of Alassio. Across roughly 109 kilometres, the opening stage moves from high coastal viewpoints to the promenades of the Italian Riviera.
