The queen stage of the 2016 Tour, on the French National Day of
Bastille Day, this mountain stage departed west out of Montpellier before quickly turning north-east to head through
Castries and
Sommières. The route then zig-zagged east through
Vergèze to
Bouillargues. Continuing east, the riders travelled through
Beaucaire,
Tarascon and
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to an intermediate sprint at
Mollégès. The race then headed north-east through
Cavaillon and ascended through
Gordes to the Category 4 Côte de Gordes at 449 metres (1,473 ft). Turning north, with a brief descent, the race continued climbing into the Category 3 Col des Trois Termes to 577 metres (1,893 ft). The route then descended to
Mazan and turned east to
Bédoin. The riders continued east to begin the ascent of the Hors catégorie Mont Ventoux, at an average gradient of 8.8%, using the southern route to the summit. The finish line was to have been reached at an altitude of 1,912 metres (6,273 ft) after a 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) ascent.[4][5][6][7] After a weather forecast of high winds at the summit of Ventoux, the stage was shortened by 6 km (3.7 mi) the day before. The stage finished at Chalet Reynard at 1,435 metres (4,708 ft), with approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of ascent up the mountain.[8][9]
After the route was shortened, spectators congregated near the new finishing line. Near the end of the race, an attacking group consisting of
Chris Froome,
Richie Porte, and
Bauke Mollema encountered thick crowds along the climb. The crowds forced a motorbike in front of the riders to suddenly stop, causing all three riders to crash. Mollema was able to get back on his bike and quickly ride off, but Porte and Froome were both delayed, especially Froome, whose bike was damaged in the crash. Leaving his bike behind, Froome then decided to run up Mont Ventoux, before being given a neutral service bike. Shortly thereafter he was able to get a team bike from his team car. Froome finished the stage 1 minute and 40 seconds behind Mollema, provisionally ceding the yellow jersey to
Adam Yates and being placed in sixth. After the incident was reviewed, a jury granted both Froome and Porte the same time as Mollema, who had finished ahead of the main field despite the crash. This gave Froome the yellow jersey again, and also gave him time on both Yates and
Nairo Quintana.[10][11]
This short stage was an
individual time trial on an undulating road, departing north-west and uphill from Bourg-Saint-Andéol. The first time check took place at the 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) mark at Côte de Bourg-Saint-Andéol. Each rider then headed east through
Saint-Remèze, to the second time check at the 20 kilometres (12 mi) mark at Les Arredons. From there, the road took a winding descent to the third time check at the 28 kilometres (17 mi) mark at the
Pont d'Arc, with the road then winding north through
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and then uphill east to the finish line at the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc. The route was expected to take each rider around 50 minutes.[12][13][14][15]
The presentation of the jerseys was altered in the wake of the
Nice attack. There was no music played, no presentation of sponsors, and all the jersey winners walked onto the stage together, in silence.[16] Over the next three days, official days of mourning by order of the French government, the presentations were done without the usual podium music.
This flat stage departed from Montélimar heading east through
Cléon-d'Andran to the Category 4 climb of the Côte de Puy-Saint-Martin. The route then turned north through
Crest,
Bourg-de-Péage and
Margès to the Category 4 climbs of Côte du Four-à-Chaux and the Côte d'
Hauterives. The riders continued north through
Beaurepaire and
Eyzin-Pinet to an intermediate sprint at the Lafayette industrial park to the west of
Diémoz. The race continued north around the eastern outskirt of
Lyon, travelling through
Saint-Quentin-Fallavier,
Charvieu-Chavagneux,
Jons and
Montluel to the finish at the Parc des Oiseaux.[17][18][19][20]
This medium mountain stage departed from Bourg-en-Bresse heading east through
Ceyzériat and
Hautecourt-Romanèche to the Category 1 climb of the
Col du Berthiand at 780 metres (2,560 ft). The route then descended south through
Nurieux and
Peyriat to
Cerdon. The riders then took a winding route north-east to the summit of the Category 2 Col du
Sappel [
fr] to 794 metres (2,605 ft), slightly descending south-east to
Vieu-d'Izenave before continuing into the Category 3 Col de Pisseloup to 968 metres (3,176 ft). Following a brief descent through
Champdor there was an intermediate sprint at
Hauteville-Lompnes, which continued east into the Category 3
Col de la Rochette [
fr] to 1,113 metres (3,652 ft). The riders then descended east and south through
Hotonnes and
Lochieu to begin the 12.8 kilometres (8.0 mi) climb of the Hors catégorieCol du Grand Colombier to 1,501 metres (4,925 ft). Once descended via
Anglefort into Culoz, the race travelled back out to the Category 1 Lacets du Grand Colombier at 891 metres (2,923 ft) descending again via Anglefort, before the finish line in Culoz itself.[21][22][23][24]
This mountainous stage departed from Bern heading south through
Wattenwil to
Reutigen, where the race turned west for
Oberwil im Simmental and
Boltigen. The race then headed south to ascend the Category 3
Côte de Saanenmöser and descended east to the plateau at
Rougemont. The route then winded, ascending south through
Château-d'Œx to the Category 3
Col des Mosses at 1,445 metres (4,741 ft). After descending south-west to the valley floor at
Aigle, the race turned south to travel through
Saint-Maurice to an intermediate sprint at
Martigny. The riders then began to wind west for the 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) ascent of the Category 1
Col de la Forclaz to 1,527 metres (5,010 ft), with a partial descent through
Trient to Finhaut. The final ascent was the Hors catégorie 10.4 kilometres (6.5 mi) climb to 1,960 metres (6,430 ft) for the finish line at the
Émosson Dam.[32][33][34][35]
The shortest stage of the tour was an individual time trial on mountainous road. The riders departed west from Sallanches to
Domancy, where the climb began. Carrying on north, the first time check took place at the 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) mark at the Côte de Domancy. The road then wound uphill west to the second time check at the 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) mark at
Combloux. From there, the riders continued uphill north-west to the third time check at the 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) mark at Les Berthelets. The route then wound north-west to the summit of the Côte des Chozeaux at 1,219 metres (3,999 ft), before a short descent to the finish line in Megève. The route was expected to take each rider around 32 minutes.[36][37][38][39]
This mountainous stage departed from Albertville winding west over the unclassified
Col de Tamié [
fr] and then descending north through
Faverges. The race then turned north-west towards
Doussard, where there was an intermediate sprint. Continuing north through
Talloires and then winding south, the riders began the Category 1 climb of the
Col de la Forclaz de Montmin to 1,157 metres (3,796 ft), before descending west through
Montmin and then south and west through
Marlens to
Ugine. The race then climbed south to the Category 2
Col de la Forclaz de Queige to 870 metres (2,850 ft). Descending west through
Queige to
Villard-sur-Doron, the route then wound and ascended north on a 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi) climb to the Hors catégorieMontée de Bisanne [
es] to 1,723 metres (5,653 ft). Descending through the unclassified
Col des Saisies to
Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe and turning north-east on through
Megève, the route continued descending to the valley floor at
Domancy. Turning south-east to head around the western outskirt of
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, the riders began the 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) climb, of the Category 1 ascent to 1,372 metres (4,501 ft), for the ski station of
Le Bettex.[40][41][42][43]
This mountain stage departed from Megeve heading southwest through
Praz-sur-Arly to
Flumet. The riders then turned north for
La Giettaz and began climbing the Category 2
Col des Aravis to 1,487 metres (4,879 ft). Descending to an intermediate sprint at
Le Grand-Bornand, the race turned northeast and began the Category 1 climb of the
Col de la Colombière to 1,618 metres (5,308 ft). After descending through
Le Reposoir, the route turned north to the valley floor at
Marnaz and
Thyez. Beginning a gentle ascent through
Marignier and
Mieussy, the riders then faced the 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) climb of the Category 1
Col de la Ramaz to 1,619 metres (5,312 ft). A winding descent south to
Taninges followed, with a turn east through
Morillon to
Samoëns. There, the race ascended the Hors catégorieCol de Joux Plane to 1,691 metres (5,548 ft), before descending to the finish line at Morzine.[44][45][46][47]
The queen stage of the 2016 Tour, on the French National Day of
Bastille Day, this mountain stage departed west out of Montpellier before quickly turning north-east to head through
Castries and
Sommières. The route then zig-zagged east through
Vergèze to
Bouillargues. Continuing east, the riders travelled through
Beaucaire,
Tarascon and
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to an intermediate sprint at
Mollégès. The race then headed north-east through
Cavaillon and ascended through
Gordes to the Category 4 Côte de Gordes at 449 metres (1,473 ft). Turning north, with a brief descent, the race continued climbing into the Category 3 Col des Trois Termes to 577 metres (1,893 ft). The route then descended to
Mazan and turned east to
Bédoin. The riders continued east to begin the ascent of the Hors catégorie Mont Ventoux, at an average gradient of 8.8%, using the southern route to the summit. The finish line was to have been reached at an altitude of 1,912 metres (6,273 ft) after a 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) ascent.[4][5][6][7] After a weather forecast of high winds at the summit of Ventoux, the stage was shortened by 6 km (3.7 mi) the day before. The stage finished at Chalet Reynard at 1,435 metres (4,708 ft), with approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of ascent up the mountain.[8][9]
After the route was shortened, spectators congregated near the new finishing line. Near the end of the race, an attacking group consisting of
Chris Froome,
Richie Porte, and
Bauke Mollema encountered thick crowds along the climb. The crowds forced a motorbike in front of the riders to suddenly stop, causing all three riders to crash. Mollema was able to get back on his bike and quickly ride off, but Porte and Froome were both delayed, especially Froome, whose bike was damaged in the crash. Leaving his bike behind, Froome then decided to run up Mont Ventoux, before being given a neutral service bike. Shortly thereafter he was able to get a team bike from his team car. Froome finished the stage 1 minute and 40 seconds behind Mollema, provisionally ceding the yellow jersey to
Adam Yates and being placed in sixth. After the incident was reviewed, a jury granted both Froome and Porte the same time as Mollema, who had finished ahead of the main field despite the crash. This gave Froome the yellow jersey again, and also gave him time on both Yates and
Nairo Quintana.[10][11]
This short stage was an
individual time trial on an undulating road, departing north-west and uphill from Bourg-Saint-Andéol. The first time check took place at the 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) mark at Côte de Bourg-Saint-Andéol. Each rider then headed east through
Saint-Remèze, to the second time check at the 20 kilometres (12 mi) mark at Les Arredons. From there, the road took a winding descent to the third time check at the 28 kilometres (17 mi) mark at the
Pont d'Arc, with the road then winding north through
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and then uphill east to the finish line at the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc. The route was expected to take each rider around 50 minutes.[12][13][14][15]
The presentation of the jerseys was altered in the wake of the
Nice attack. There was no music played, no presentation of sponsors, and all the jersey winners walked onto the stage together, in silence.[16] Over the next three days, official days of mourning by order of the French government, the presentations were done without the usual podium music.
This flat stage departed from Montélimar heading east through
Cléon-d'Andran to the Category 4 climb of the Côte de Puy-Saint-Martin. The route then turned north through
Crest,
Bourg-de-Péage and
Margès to the Category 4 climbs of Côte du Four-à-Chaux and the Côte d'
Hauterives. The riders continued north through
Beaurepaire and
Eyzin-Pinet to an intermediate sprint at the Lafayette industrial park to the west of
Diémoz. The race continued north around the eastern outskirt of
Lyon, travelling through
Saint-Quentin-Fallavier,
Charvieu-Chavagneux,
Jons and
Montluel to the finish at the Parc des Oiseaux.[17][18][19][20]
This medium mountain stage departed from Bourg-en-Bresse heading east through
Ceyzériat and
Hautecourt-Romanèche to the Category 1 climb of the
Col du Berthiand at 780 metres (2,560 ft). The route then descended south through
Nurieux and
Peyriat to
Cerdon. The riders then took a winding route north-east to the summit of the Category 2 Col du
Sappel [
fr] to 794 metres (2,605 ft), slightly descending south-east to
Vieu-d'Izenave before continuing into the Category 3 Col de Pisseloup to 968 metres (3,176 ft). Following a brief descent through
Champdor there was an intermediate sprint at
Hauteville-Lompnes, which continued east into the Category 3
Col de la Rochette [
fr] to 1,113 metres (3,652 ft). The riders then descended east and south through
Hotonnes and
Lochieu to begin the 12.8 kilometres (8.0 mi) climb of the Hors catégorieCol du Grand Colombier to 1,501 metres (4,925 ft). Once descended via
Anglefort into Culoz, the race travelled back out to the Category 1 Lacets du Grand Colombier at 891 metres (2,923 ft) descending again via Anglefort, before the finish line in Culoz itself.[21][22][23][24]
This mountainous stage departed from Bern heading south through
Wattenwil to
Reutigen, where the race turned west for
Oberwil im Simmental and
Boltigen. The race then headed south to ascend the Category 3
Côte de Saanenmöser and descended east to the plateau at
Rougemont. The route then winded, ascending south through
Château-d'Œx to the Category 3
Col des Mosses at 1,445 metres (4,741 ft). After descending south-west to the valley floor at
Aigle, the race turned south to travel through
Saint-Maurice to an intermediate sprint at
Martigny. The riders then began to wind west for the 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) ascent of the Category 1
Col de la Forclaz to 1,527 metres (5,010 ft), with a partial descent through
Trient to Finhaut. The final ascent was the Hors catégorie 10.4 kilometres (6.5 mi) climb to 1,960 metres (6,430 ft) for the finish line at the
Émosson Dam.[32][33][34][35]
The shortest stage of the tour was an individual time trial on mountainous road. The riders departed west from Sallanches to
Domancy, where the climb began. Carrying on north, the first time check took place at the 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) mark at the Côte de Domancy. The road then wound uphill west to the second time check at the 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) mark at
Combloux. From there, the riders continued uphill north-west to the third time check at the 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) mark at Les Berthelets. The route then wound north-west to the summit of the Côte des Chozeaux at 1,219 metres (3,999 ft), before a short descent to the finish line in Megève. The route was expected to take each rider around 32 minutes.[36][37][38][39]
This mountainous stage departed from Albertville winding west over the unclassified
Col de Tamié [
fr] and then descending north through
Faverges. The race then turned north-west towards
Doussard, where there was an intermediate sprint. Continuing north through
Talloires and then winding south, the riders began the Category 1 climb of the
Col de la Forclaz de Montmin to 1,157 metres (3,796 ft), before descending west through
Montmin and then south and west through
Marlens to
Ugine. The race then climbed south to the Category 2
Col de la Forclaz de Queige to 870 metres (2,850 ft). Descending west through
Queige to
Villard-sur-Doron, the route then wound and ascended north on a 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi) climb to the Hors catégorieMontée de Bisanne [
es] to 1,723 metres (5,653 ft). Descending through the unclassified
Col des Saisies to
Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe and turning north-east on through
Megève, the route continued descending to the valley floor at
Domancy. Turning south-east to head around the western outskirt of
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, the riders began the 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) climb, of the Category 1 ascent to 1,372 metres (4,501 ft), for the ski station of
Le Bettex.[40][41][42][43]
This mountain stage departed from Megeve heading southwest through
Praz-sur-Arly to
Flumet. The riders then turned north for
La Giettaz and began climbing the Category 2
Col des Aravis to 1,487 metres (4,879 ft). Descending to an intermediate sprint at
Le Grand-Bornand, the race turned northeast and began the Category 1 climb of the
Col de la Colombière to 1,618 metres (5,308 ft). After descending through
Le Reposoir, the route turned north to the valley floor at
Marnaz and
Thyez. Beginning a gentle ascent through
Marignier and
Mieussy, the riders then faced the 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) climb of the Category 1
Col de la Ramaz to 1,619 metres (5,312 ft). A winding descent south to
Taninges followed, with a turn east through
Morillon to
Samoëns. There, the race ascended the Hors catégorieCol de Joux Plane to 1,691 metres (5,548 ft), before descending to the finish line at Morzine.[44][45][46][47]