Riders on the 2016 Etape du Tour will have to tackle the brutal slopes of the Col de Joux-Plane after the route was revealed at the Tour de France presentation.

With a course mirroring the penultimate stage of this year’s race, the 24th edition of the Etape du Tour will take place from Megeve to Morzine on Sunday July 10.

With four climbs packed in, the 146km route is set to represent a significant challenge to the 15,000 sportive riders expected to take part with, only 20km of flat terrain between the Col des Aravis, Col de la Colombiere, Col de la Ramaz and Col de Joux Plane.

Former professional cyclists to win in Morzine include Colombian climbing aces Lucho Herrera and Nairo Quintana, whose victory came at the Criterium du Dauphine in 2012.

Related reading: Tour de France 2016 route revealed

The 11.6km ascent of the Joux Plane is the toughest – and final – ascent on the route, boasting an average gradient of 8.5 per cent, with some slopes ramping up as sharply as 12 per cent as you climb to 1,691m.

And that’s only the icing on the cake, with the Col des Aravis offering an 11.5km ascent at an average of five percent, the Col de la Colombiere 11.7km at 5.9 per cent and the Ramaz a punishing 16km at 6.1 per cent to soften the legs before the Joux Plane finale and descent into Morzine.

Registration for the Etape du Tour is now open at asochallenges.com. For more information visit www.letapedutour.com.