The riders departed southwest from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with racing starting at
Bellentre. After continuing to
Moûtiers, the riders turned northwest to
Bonneval-Tarentaise and then headed southwest on the 25.3 km (15.7 mi) Hors catégorie climb of the
Col de la Madeleine to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). After descending to the valley floor at
La Chambre, the riders turned southeast and faced the 3.4 km (2.1 mi) climb of the category 2
Lacets de Montvernier [
fr] and descended south to an intermediate sprint at
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. The riders then began the 29 km (18 mi) climb south and then west to the Hors catégorieCol de la Croix de Fer at 2,067 m (6,781 ft). The route then descended west, passing the
Grand'Maison Dam, and then south through
Allemont, to the Hors catégorie 13.8 km (8.6 mi) climb from
Le Bourg-d'Oisans to the stage finish at Alpe d'Huez at 1,850 m (6,070 ft).[5]
Rigoberto Urán withdrew from the race before the start of the stage, having ridden with an injury from Stage 9.[6][7] The stage was won by Geraint Thomas, becoming the first rider in the race's history to win on the legendary Alpe while wearing the yellow jersey.[8][9] General classification contender Vincenzo Nibali, who was fourth overall,[10] was forced to withdraw from the Tour following the stage after an incident near the summit of Alpe d'Huez where he fell off his bike. Although he remounted his bike and finished the stage, he was soon transported to hospital in an ambulance and diagnosed with a fractured
vertebrae. It was initially suspected that the crash had been caused by a police motorcycle driving in front of him, but it later emerged that he crashed after being caught in a spectator's camera strap.[11][12] Nibali's team management saw the lack of crowd control from the
gendarmerie (French Armed Forces police) and spectators lighting
flares as contributing factors. While race director Christian Prudhomme appealed to fans to show the riders more respect, and personally apologised to the team and promised that the safety would be improved in the future.[13] The team management believed the ASO could be held responsible for the incident, and the incident later became a legal matter when Nibali filed a complaint to the French police.[12]
The stage departed heading north and then downhill west to
Vizille. After passing over the category 3 Côte de Brié, the riders turned northwest and descended into
Grenoble. The route continued north and then west to an intermediate sprint at
Saint-Quentin-sur-Isère. Heading southwest through
Rovon, the riders eventually turned southeast to
Pont-en-Royans and then south over the category 4 Côte de
Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans. The route then meandered west to
Hostun and continued on an uncategorised climb southwest, through
Rochefort-Samson, and gradually descending to
Peyrus. The race then turned west, heading around the outskirts of
Chabeuil, to a flat finish in Valence.[16]
Vincenzo Nibali withdrew from the race before the start of the stage, suffering from a fracture of a
vertebra as a consequence of a collision with a spectator on the climbing of the Alpe d'Huez.[17] Until his withdrawal, he was fourth on the general classification.
The riders departed west from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, though
Bourg-Saint-Andéol and
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. After heading around the northern side of
Sampzon, the route turned southwest to the category 4 Côte du Grand Châtaignier and wound south to an intermediate sprint at
Bessèges. Continuing west, the race passed through
Génolhac, going over the category 2 climb of the
Col de la Croix-de-Berthel [
fr] to 1,088 m (3,570 ft), with a short descent to
Le Pont-de-Montvert, and then climbing the category 3
Col du Pont sans Eau to 1,084 m (3,556 ft). After descending to
Balsièges, the race turned north and then headed west through Mende, to the finish on the plateau beyond the 3 km (1.9 mi) 10.2% gradient climb of the category 2
Côte de la Croix Neuve [
fr] to 1,055 m (3,461 ft).[20]
The race departed west from Millau, reaching the category 3 Côte de Luzençon after 9 km (5.6 mi). After passing through
Saint-Affrique and
Belmont-sur-Rance, the riders faced the 10.2 km (6.3 mi) category 2 climb of the Col de Sié, then descending through
Lacaune-les-Bains,
Brassac and
Boissezon. The riders then turned south and, after reaching an intermediate sprint at
Mazamet, the race climbed the 12.3 km (7.6 mi) category 1
Pic de Nore to 1,205 m (3,953 ft). The route then descended through
Cabrespine to
Villalier, and continued to a slight uphill finish in Carcassonne.[23]
The race departed west from Carcassonne, heading through
Montréal to the category 4 Côte de
Fanjeaux. After passing through
Belpech, the riders reached the category 4 Côte de
Pamiers. The route traveled through
Le Mas-d'Azil and
Lescure, to an intermediate sprint at
Saint-Girons. The race then began a gradual climb to the category 2
Col de Portet d'Aspet to 1,069 m (3,507 ft), followed by a short descent, and then climbed the category 1
Col de Menté to 1,349 m (4,426 ft). Meandering south into Spain, the race headed through
Les and
Bossòst, to begin the climb of the category 1
Col du Portillon to 1,292 m (4,239 ft) and descend back into France, to the finish line at Bagnères-de-Luchon.[27]
At 26 km (16 mi) into the stage, the police used
tear gas to stop a protest by local farmers who had placed hay bales on the road. When the riders crossed that point, there was still tear gas in the air. The race was neutralized for about 15 minutes because several riders had problems with their eyes and had to rinse them.[28][29]
Philippe Gilbert led the stage at the descent from the Col de Portet d'Aspet. On the descent, he crashed into a wall and fell down a ravine, but managed to recover himself to continue to the end of the stage. However, on medical inspection of his leg injury, after the stage, he was found unfit to continue the race.[30] Adam Yates suffered a crash at 6.5 km (4 mi) from the finish, while leading the stage on the descent from the Col du Portillon, but was able to continue the race with minor injury.[31]
For the shortest mass start route of the Tour, riders departed west from Bagnères-de-Luchon, ascending the 14.9 km (9.3 mi) category 1 climb through the
Col de Peyresourde to the Montée de
Peyragudes at 1,645 m (5,397 ft). The race then descended to a sprint at
Loudenvielle, before the 7.4 km (4.6 mi) category 1 climb to the
Col de Val Louron-Azet at 1,580 m (5,180 ft). Following a descent to Saint-Lary-Soulan, the race began the Hors catégorie 16 km (9.9 mi) climb to the finish at the Col de Portet at an altitude of 2,215 m (7,267 ft), for the
Souvenir Henri Desgrange.[34]
The race departed from Trie-sur-Baïse, heading north to
Miélan. The riders then continued northwest to
Marciac, and then southwest to
Maubourguet. After heading northwest and climbing the category 4 Côte de
Madiran, the race continued to an intermediate sprint at
Aurensan and headed on to
Aire-sur-l'Adour. The route then meandered west through
Geaune to
Samadet and turned southeast. The race then continued through
Auriac to the category 4 climb of the Côte d'
Anos. The riders continued south to the western outskirts of
Morlaàs, before heading southwest to a flat finish in Pau.[37]
The race departed east from Lourdes with racing starting at
Arcizac-ez-Angles. The riders then climbed the category 4 Côte de
Loucrup, and headed south through
Montgaillard to
Bagnères-de-Bigorre. The riders continued east through
Mauvezin to the category 4 Côte de
Capvern-les-Bains. Continuing south, the race eventually reached an intermediate sprint at
Sarrancolin. On turning northwest at
Arreau, the riders began the 12 km (7.5 mi) climb to the category 1
Col d'Aspin to 1,490 m (4,890 ft), followed by a descent to
Sainte-Marie-de-Campan. The race then took the climb through
La Mongie to the summit of the Hors catégorieCol du Tourmalet, for the
Souvenir Jacques Goddet, at 2,115 m (6,939 ft). On descending through
Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the race then took the road north, through
Pierrefitte-Nestalas to the valley floor at
Argelès-Gazost. Turning southwest, the route passed over the 8.6 km (5.3 mi) category 2 climb to the
Col des Bordères [
fr] at 1,156 m (3,793 ft). With a brief descent to
Arrens, the riders then began the 16.6 km (10.3 mi) climb, through the uncategorised
Col du Soulor, to the Hors catégorieCol d'Aubisque to 1,709 m (5,607 ft). The race then descended through
Eaux-Bonnes to the finish line in Laruns.[40]
The riders departed northeast, from Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, to the first timecheck on the outskirts of
Ustaritz. The route then turned south to
Souraïde and headed northwest to the second timecheck, before returning through the village. The riders then turned south to climb the Col de Pinodieta, a route covering a distance of 900 m (980 yd) to an elevation of 172 m (564 ft) at a gradient of 10.2%, and then descended northeast to the finish at Espelette. The route was expected to take each rider around 44 minutes.[43]
The riders departed southwest from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with racing starting at
Bellentre. After continuing to
Moûtiers, the riders turned northwest to
Bonneval-Tarentaise and then headed southwest on the 25.3 km (15.7 mi) Hors catégorie climb of the
Col de la Madeleine to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). After descending to the valley floor at
La Chambre, the riders turned southeast and faced the 3.4 km (2.1 mi) climb of the category 2
Lacets de Montvernier [
fr] and descended south to an intermediate sprint at
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. The riders then began the 29 km (18 mi) climb south and then west to the Hors catégorieCol de la Croix de Fer at 2,067 m (6,781 ft). The route then descended west, passing the
Grand'Maison Dam, and then south through
Allemont, to the Hors catégorie 13.8 km (8.6 mi) climb from
Le Bourg-d'Oisans to the stage finish at Alpe d'Huez at 1,850 m (6,070 ft).[5]
Rigoberto Urán withdrew from the race before the start of the stage, having ridden with an injury from Stage 9.[6][7] The stage was won by Geraint Thomas, becoming the first rider in the race's history to win on the legendary Alpe while wearing the yellow jersey.[8][9] General classification contender Vincenzo Nibali, who was fourth overall,[10] was forced to withdraw from the Tour following the stage after an incident near the summit of Alpe d'Huez where he fell off his bike. Although he remounted his bike and finished the stage, he was soon transported to hospital in an ambulance and diagnosed with a fractured
vertebrae. It was initially suspected that the crash had been caused by a police motorcycle driving in front of him, but it later emerged that he crashed after being caught in a spectator's camera strap.[11][12] Nibali's team management saw the lack of crowd control from the
gendarmerie (French Armed Forces police) and spectators lighting
flares as contributing factors. While race director Christian Prudhomme appealed to fans to show the riders more respect, and personally apologised to the team and promised that the safety would be improved in the future.[13] The team management believed the ASO could be held responsible for the incident, and the incident later became a legal matter when Nibali filed a complaint to the French police.[12]
The stage departed heading north and then downhill west to
Vizille. After passing over the category 3 Côte de Brié, the riders turned northwest and descended into
Grenoble. The route continued north and then west to an intermediate sprint at
Saint-Quentin-sur-Isère. Heading southwest through
Rovon, the riders eventually turned southeast to
Pont-en-Royans and then south over the category 4 Côte de
Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans. The route then meandered west to
Hostun and continued on an uncategorised climb southwest, through
Rochefort-Samson, and gradually descending to
Peyrus. The race then turned west, heading around the outskirts of
Chabeuil, to a flat finish in Valence.[16]
Vincenzo Nibali withdrew from the race before the start of the stage, suffering from a fracture of a
vertebra as a consequence of a collision with a spectator on the climbing of the Alpe d'Huez.[17] Until his withdrawal, he was fourth on the general classification.
The riders departed west from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, though
Bourg-Saint-Andéol and
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. After heading around the northern side of
Sampzon, the route turned southwest to the category 4 Côte du Grand Châtaignier and wound south to an intermediate sprint at
Bessèges. Continuing west, the race passed through
Génolhac, going over the category 2 climb of the
Col de la Croix-de-Berthel [
fr] to 1,088 m (3,570 ft), with a short descent to
Le Pont-de-Montvert, and then climbing the category 3
Col du Pont sans Eau to 1,084 m (3,556 ft). After descending to
Balsièges, the race turned north and then headed west through Mende, to the finish on the plateau beyond the 3 km (1.9 mi) 10.2% gradient climb of the category 2
Côte de la Croix Neuve [
fr] to 1,055 m (3,461 ft).[20]
The race departed west from Millau, reaching the category 3 Côte de Luzençon after 9 km (5.6 mi). After passing through
Saint-Affrique and
Belmont-sur-Rance, the riders faced the 10.2 km (6.3 mi) category 2 climb of the Col de Sié, then descending through
Lacaune-les-Bains,
Brassac and
Boissezon. The riders then turned south and, after reaching an intermediate sprint at
Mazamet, the race climbed the 12.3 km (7.6 mi) category 1
Pic de Nore to 1,205 m (3,953 ft). The route then descended through
Cabrespine to
Villalier, and continued to a slight uphill finish in Carcassonne.[23]
The race departed west from Carcassonne, heading through
Montréal to the category 4 Côte de
Fanjeaux. After passing through
Belpech, the riders reached the category 4 Côte de
Pamiers. The route traveled through
Le Mas-d'Azil and
Lescure, to an intermediate sprint at
Saint-Girons. The race then began a gradual climb to the category 2
Col de Portet d'Aspet to 1,069 m (3,507 ft), followed by a short descent, and then climbed the category 1
Col de Menté to 1,349 m (4,426 ft). Meandering south into Spain, the race headed through
Les and
Bossòst, to begin the climb of the category 1
Col du Portillon to 1,292 m (4,239 ft) and descend back into France, to the finish line at Bagnères-de-Luchon.[27]
At 26 km (16 mi) into the stage, the police used
tear gas to stop a protest by local farmers who had placed hay bales on the road. When the riders crossed that point, there was still tear gas in the air. The race was neutralized for about 15 minutes because several riders had problems with their eyes and had to rinse them.[28][29]
Philippe Gilbert led the stage at the descent from the Col de Portet d'Aspet. On the descent, he crashed into a wall and fell down a ravine, but managed to recover himself to continue to the end of the stage. However, on medical inspection of his leg injury, after the stage, he was found unfit to continue the race.[30] Adam Yates suffered a crash at 6.5 km (4 mi) from the finish, while leading the stage on the descent from the Col du Portillon, but was able to continue the race with minor injury.[31]
For the shortest mass start route of the Tour, riders departed west from Bagnères-de-Luchon, ascending the 14.9 km (9.3 mi) category 1 climb through the
Col de Peyresourde to the Montée de
Peyragudes at 1,645 m (5,397 ft). The race then descended to a sprint at
Loudenvielle, before the 7.4 km (4.6 mi) category 1 climb to the
Col de Val Louron-Azet at 1,580 m (5,180 ft). Following a descent to Saint-Lary-Soulan, the race began the Hors catégorie 16 km (9.9 mi) climb to the finish at the Col de Portet at an altitude of 2,215 m (7,267 ft), for the
Souvenir Henri Desgrange.[34]
The race departed from Trie-sur-Baïse, heading north to
Miélan. The riders then continued northwest to
Marciac, and then southwest to
Maubourguet. After heading northwest and climbing the category 4 Côte de
Madiran, the race continued to an intermediate sprint at
Aurensan and headed on to
Aire-sur-l'Adour. The route then meandered west through
Geaune to
Samadet and turned southeast. The race then continued through
Auriac to the category 4 climb of the Côte d'
Anos. The riders continued south to the western outskirts of
Morlaàs, before heading southwest to a flat finish in Pau.[37]
The race departed east from Lourdes with racing starting at
Arcizac-ez-Angles. The riders then climbed the category 4 Côte de
Loucrup, and headed south through
Montgaillard to
Bagnères-de-Bigorre. The riders continued east through
Mauvezin to the category 4 Côte de
Capvern-les-Bains. Continuing south, the race eventually reached an intermediate sprint at
Sarrancolin. On turning northwest at
Arreau, the riders began the 12 km (7.5 mi) climb to the category 1
Col d'Aspin to 1,490 m (4,890 ft), followed by a descent to
Sainte-Marie-de-Campan. The race then took the climb through
La Mongie to the summit of the Hors catégorieCol du Tourmalet, for the
Souvenir Jacques Goddet, at 2,115 m (6,939 ft). On descending through
Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the race then took the road north, through
Pierrefitte-Nestalas to the valley floor at
Argelès-Gazost. Turning southwest, the route passed over the 8.6 km (5.3 mi) category 2 climb to the
Col des Bordères [
fr] at 1,156 m (3,793 ft). With a brief descent to
Arrens, the riders then began the 16.6 km (10.3 mi) climb, through the uncategorised
Col du Soulor, to the Hors catégorieCol d'Aubisque to 1,709 m (5,607 ft). The race then descended through
Eaux-Bonnes to the finish line in Laruns.[40]
The riders departed northeast, from Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, to the first timecheck on the outskirts of
Ustaritz. The route then turned south to
Souraïde and headed northwest to the second timecheck, before returning through the village. The riders then turned south to climb the Col de Pinodieta, a route covering a distance of 900 m (980 yd) to an elevation of 172 m (564 ft) at a gradient of 10.2%, and then descended northeast to the finish at Espelette. The route was expected to take each rider around 44 minutes.[43]