GT20 / ETAPE 5 : CALINZANA - GALERIA

Head west for a spectacular leg of the GT20!

Between Calinzana and Galeria, this 5ᵉ stage unfurls 31km of escapism in the heart of a wild and luminous Corsica. With 420 metres of positive gradient, the route invites you to gradually immerse yourself in a contrasting scenery where fragrant scrub mingles with the astonishing red rocks of the west coast.

The climb to the Col de Marsolino is the sporting highlight of the day. Its steady slopes - around 7% - offer an accessible and rewarding challenge. At the summit, the panorama opens out generously onto the surrounding landscape: a moment suspended between sea and mountain, the signature of the island's great itineraries.

The long, flowing descent crosses the Fango valley in a luminous, mineral atmosphere, with two iconic peaks in the background: the majestic Paglia Orba and the impressive Capu Tafunatu. Gradually, the air becomes thicker with sea spray: the Mediterranean is getting closer.

The arrival at Galeria, with its feet in the water, marks the ideal culmination of this stage. A seaside resort on a human scale, the village is also the gateway to the unmissable Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lovers of scuba diving and sea outings will discover exceptional seabeds, some of the best preserved in the Mediterranean.

It's a short but intense stage, a combination of sporting challenges and the promise of escape, where the mountains gently slope towards the sea.