The 2016 Tour de France is the 103rd edition of the cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. On 24 November 2014 Amaury Sport Organisation announced that the race would depart, on 2 July 2016, from the French department of Manche, for the first time in the history of the Tour de France.[1][2] The race is also scheduled to have a stage finish in Andorra.[3] The race will finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 24 July.
This flat stage departed east from Mont Saint-Michel and headed north, following the western coastline of the Cotentin Peninsula, with the Category 4 climbs of the Côte d'Avranches at 98 metres (322ft) and the Côte des falaises de Champeaux at 81 metres (266ft) early on. The riders then passed through Granville, Montmartin-sur-Mer, Gouville-sur-Mer and Lessay. On moving inland to cross the peninsula, an intermediate sprint took place at La Haye. The race then continued through Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, turning north-east to Montebourg, and over to the opposite coast at Quinéville. The riders then travelled south-east along the coast and turned inland south-west to Sainte-Mère-Église, before heading east to the finish line at Utah Beach.[4][5][6][7] The stage ended with a sprint finish won by Mark Cavendish.
This hilly stage departed south-east from Saint-Lô to the Category 4 climb of the Côte de Torigny-les-Villes, then heading south-west to the Category 4 climb of the Côte de Montabot. The riders passed through Percy-en-Normandie and Hambye, reaching the Category 4 climb of the Côte de Montpinchon. The race then travelled north-west through Coutances, Montsurvent and Lessay. On reaching the coast at Bretteville-sur-Ay the race followed the coastline to an intermediate sprint at Portbail. The route then continued north through Barneville-Carteret, Les Pieux and Helleville to Sainte-Croix-Hague and turned west. The Category 3 Côte de La Glacerie at 133 metres (436ft), a 1.9 kilometres (1.2mi) climb at 6.5%, occurred on the way to the uphill finish at Cherbourg.[8][9][10][11]Peter Sagan won the stage and took the lead of the race.
This medium mountain stage departed east from Limoges, over the Category 4 Côte de Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, through Bujaleuf and turning south-east to Eymoutiers. The riders continued through Bugeat and Meymac to Saint-Angel. The race then turned south to head through Neuvic before climbing the Category 3 Côte du Puy Saint-Mary, quickly followed by an intermediate sprint through Mauriac. The riders continued south-east through Anglards-de-Salers and Salers ascending the Category 3 Col de Neronne to 1,242 metres (4,075ft). A brief descent was followed by the Category 2 climb of the Pas de Peyrol to 1,589 metres (5,213ft). The race then descended south on a winding route through Mandailles to the Category 2 climb of the Col du Perthus to 1,309 metres (4,295ft). Following this climb, the riders descended through Saint-Jacques-des-Blats, and turned north-east to climb the Category 3 Col de Font-de-Cère to 1,294 metres (4,245ft), before a brief descent and climb to the finish line at Le Lioran.[20][21][22][23]
This hilly to flat stage departed south from Arpajon-sur-Cère, through Montsalvy to Vieillevie. The riders then headed west through Saint-Parthem to the Category 3 climb of the Col des Estaques to 322 metres (1,056ft). The descent south into Decazeville was followed by the Category 4 climb of the Côte d'Aubin to 335 metres (1,099ft). This then gently ascended into the intermediate sprint at Montbazens, where the route turned south-west. The race then travelled through Lanuéjouls, Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Parisot and Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val where the riders turned west to climb the Category 3 Côte de Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val to 289 metres (948ft). Following the descent south-west into Montricoux, the race continued through Saint-Étienne-de-Tulmont to a flat finish at Montauban.[24][25][26][27]
This medium mountain stage departed from L'Isle-Jourdain, heading south-west through Lombez to Boulogne-sur-Gesse. The race then turned west travelling through Castelnau-Magnoac and Trie-sur-Baïse to Chelle-Debat. The route then turned south through Bordes and south-east to ascend the Category 4 Côte de Capvern, continuing without descent into La Barthe-de-Neste. The riders then headed south through an intermediate sprint at Sarrancolin, continuing to Arreau before turning west to begin the 12 kilometres (7.5mi) climb of the Category 1 Col d'Aspin to 1,490 metres (4,890ft). The riders then had a 7 kilometres (4.3mi) descent to the finish line at Lac de Payolle.[28][29][30][31]
Steve Cummings won the stage with a solo attack. After the first five riders passed, the red inflatable 1 kilometre (0.62mi) marker collapsed, blocking chasing riders, so the race organisation decided to use the timegaps measured at the 3 kilometres (1.9mi) mark. Adam Yates was most affected by the collapsing flamme rouge, because he was 7 seconds in front of the other favorites at that moment, and the marker collapsed right in front of him, causing him to crash into it.[32] After the podium ceremony the commissaires revised the result, moving Yates into second place on the General Classification and into the white jersey, which he wore non-stop for the remainder of the 2016 competition.[33]
Michael Mørkøv, who had been battling with injuries all week, became the first rider to withdraw from the tour.[38] This set a new all-time record for the longest time in which the peloton had remained intact prior to the first withdrawal.[39]
Chris Froome won the stage after surprisingly breaking away from a group of 14 riders just before the summit of the Col de Peyresourde, with about 15km remaining.[40] On the descent into Bagnères-de-Luchon he adopted a 'super aero' position, pedalling as he did so reaching a top speed of 90.9km/h.[41] With 10km to go Froome opened up a gap of 11 seconds and he maintained the lead to the end, with the following pack finishing 13 seconds behind.[41] With the time bonus, Froome took the yellow jersey for the first time in the race, wearing it non-stop through the remainder of the 2016 competition.[40]
This mountainous stage departed from Vielha Val d'Aran in Spain, heading east over the 13.7 kilometres (8.5mi) Category 1 climb of the Port de la Bonaigua to 2,072 metres (6,798ft). The riders then headed south-east through La Guingueta d'Àneu, and turned south-west at Llavorsí, to the valley floor at Sort. The route then turned south-east for the 19 kilometres (12mi) climb of the Category 1 Port del Cantó to 1,721 metres (5,646ft), descending to the valley floor at Montferrer i Castellbò. From La Seu d'Urgell, the race climbed north to an intermediate sprint at Andorra la Vella, and continued climbing into the Category 2 summit of the Côte de la Comella at 1,347 metres (4,419ft). Following a short descent to Encamp was the Category 1 climb of the Col de Beixalis to 1,796 metres (5,892ft). The race then descended to Ordino, before beginning the 10.1 kilometres (6.3mi)Hors catégorie climb to 2,240 metres (7,350ft) for the finish line at Andorra Arcalis.[42][43][44][45]
Two time overall winner Alberto Contador, one of the pre-race favorites, abandoned the Tour during Stage 9.[46]
In this medium mountain stage, the riders departed from Escaldes-Engordany in Andorra, heading east over the 22.6 kilometres (14.0mi) Category 1 climb of the Port d'Envalira to 2,408 metres (7,900ft). The riders then descended north-east back into France to Ax-les-Thermes, and turned north-west still gradually descending towards Tarascon-sur-Ariège. The race then turned north-east towards Mercus-Garrabet and wound east through Nalzen to Lavelanet. The route continued north-east to an intermediate sprint at Aigues-Vives. The riders then continued north through Mirepoix, Plavilla, Fendeille and Castelnaudary reaching the short Category 3 climb of the Côte de Saint-Ferréol. The race then descended to the finish line in Revel.[48][49][50][51] Peter Sagan took the green jersey for the third time in the 2016 competition, and wore it non-stop for the remainder of the Tour.
Froome, Sagan and Bodnar 500m (550yd) from the finish line on stage 11
This flat stage departed from Carcassonne, heading east through Caunes-Minervois and Siran to the Category 4 climb of the Côte de Minerve to 245 metres (804ft). The riders then descended to Aigues-Vives, and turned north-east to climb the Category 4 Côte de Villespassans to 207 metres (679ft) descending through Saint-Chinian to Cessenon-sur-Orb. Continuing east, the riders passed through Murviel-lès-Béziers, Magalas and Alignan-du-Vent to an intermediate sprint at Pézenas. The race then headed through Montagnac, passing Valmagne Abbey, and continuing on through Montbazin. Bearing towards the north-east, the race headed through Pignan to the finish line in Montpellier.[52][53][54][55]
In a stage affected by crosswinds, a small group comprising the general classification leader Froome, the points leader Sagan and their respective team-mates Geraint Thomas and Maciej Bodnar escaped from the peloton 13km from the finish, building a lead of as much as 26 seconds. Sagan eventually won the stage ahead of Froome and Bodnar, 6 seconds clear of the bunch. With his time bonus for finishing second, Froome increased his lead by 12 seconds overall.[56][57][58]
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