Tour de France will visit Mont Ventoux in 2016, reports suggest
Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports that the Tour de France will visit Mont Ventoux for the first time since 2013 next year
Mont Ventoux will feature in the Tour de France for the first time in three years in 2016, according to a report in Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.
The Bald Mountain last appeared on a Tour de France route on 2013, when Chris Froome beat Nairo Quintana to the top by 29 seconds on stage 15.
Het Nieuwsblad suggests the stage will start in Draguignan - a town between Nice and Marseille - and end 180km later atop the Beast of Provence.
The mountain first appeared on the Tour route in 1951 as riders made their way from Montpellier to Avignon, while the first summit finish came in 1958 with a 21.5km time trial up the slopes.
Mont-Saint-Michel will host the Grand Depart on July 2, with the first three stages taking place in the Manche region before reportedly heading south.
If the route from Draguignan to Ventoux is to be believed then it would suggest that the riders will tackle the Alps first before heading to the Pyrenees - where the race will enter Andorra, with a stage finish, rest day, and stage start being held in the country.
Froome's win up Ventoux in 2013 sparked the doping allegations levelled at the Brit during his victorious performance at the 2015 Tour, with 'hacked' power data being used to claim he was not riding clean.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Ribble Allroad Ti Pro review: the titanium endurance bike that shows its true mettle on poorer road surfaces
Classic titanium looks and 3D-printed construction make the Allroad Ti Pro a natural for long rides when the going gets rough
By Tim Russon Published
-
Bikes have got more expensive - but - we no longer start every ride wondering how long they'll remain functional
Modern machines take all the jeopardy out of leaving the house
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Extra security meant Bern's hosting of Tour de France cost £500,000 more than expected
Tour de France cost Swiss capital of Bern more that it thought it would
By Jack Elton-Walters Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali slams critics of his Tour de France performance
Vincenzo Nibali says he's 'not a robot' and can't be expected to compete with those specifically targeting the Tour overall
By Gregor Brown Published
-
Tony Martin reveals why he had to abandon Tour de France on Champs Élysées
Tony Martin made it all the way to final circuits in Paris on stage 21 before being forced to pull out of Tour de France
By Richard Windsor Published
-
This is what it took to fuel Chris Froome and Team Sky through the Tour de France
Team Sky and Chris Froome ate a combined total of 1,000 energy gels and more than 500 bars during their 2016 Tour de France success.
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Chris Froome wins 2016 Tour de France as André Greipel takes final stage
Chris Froome takes his third Tour de France victory in Paris on Sunday as André Greipel takes the final sprint showdown on the Champs Élysées
By Nigel Wynn Published
-
The moments that won Chris Froome the 2016 Tour de France
We look back at the key points from the 2016 Tour de France that won it for Chris Froome
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
-
Rival teams praise 'super' Sky at the Tour de France
Chris Froome did not win the Tour de France on his own, but was backed by eight Sky team-mates to make an unbeatable combination that is the envy of rivals
By Gregor Brown Published
-
Chris Froome and Peter Sagan's special bikes for Tour de France final stage
A yellow Pinarello and a green Specialized for Chris Froome and Peter Sagan to mark their classification wins in the 2016 Tour de France
By Nigel Wynn Published