Most of today is shaped by the descent. From Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée the route follows the Tinée out of the high mountains: tight valley sides, rock walls, tunnels, and small clusters of houses close to the river. Isola sits halfway down the valley, before the road continues to Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, the lowest point of the day. That is where the easy part ends. The route climbs away from the river into quieter slopes above the valley. Valdeblore arrives without drama: a mountain village after a day of shade, stone and warm southern air.
