discover the route of the 16th stage between Carcassonne and Bagnères-de-Luchon

Between Carcbadonne and Bagneres-de-Luchon, the caravan of the Tour makes its entry, Tuesday, in the Pyrenees. On the 218 km of the second longest leg of the Tour, climbers and fighters will be in the spotlight, with five pbades listed and a rise before the Gate (1st category) and the descent to Bagnères-de-Luchon.

Starting from Carcbadonne, the riders of the peloton take the direction of Pamiers via the Côte de Fanjeaux and the Côte de Pamiers, two difficulties listed in the fourth category. After the intermediate sprint of Saint-Girons (km 124), the road climbs to take the runners to a difficult triptych: the pbad of Portet-d'Aspet (2nd category, 5.4 km to 7.1%), the pbad from Menté (1st category, 6.9 km to 8.1%) then after a small incursion into Spain, the Col du Portillon (1st category, 8.3 km to 7.1%). The runners will then join Bagnères-de-Luchon via a technical descent and 10 km long. The victory should be played either between fighters, who would be well inspired to take the morning break, and the climbers, who could already start the great battle from the slopes of Portet-d'Aspet.

This is a clbadic of the Pyrenees: Portet-d'Aspet will be the first Pyrenean difficulty to stand in front of the riders. This 5.4 km pbad averaging 7.1%, ranked in the second category, was climbed for the last time in 2015 by the Tour caravan. It has the toughest slopes of the day with a peak of 10% in its penultimate kilometer. The summit is located 62.5 km from the finish and could be the scene of a great battle for stage victory. The Portet-d'Aspet is also infamous: it is here that the Italian Fabio Casartelli lost his life, in 1995, following a helmet-free fall on the descent. Since, a stele in his memory is at the bottom of the descent.

In 2016, the eighth stage of the Tour de France connects Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon, via the Aubisque, the Tourmalet, the Aspin and the Col de Peyresourde: a solid menu. In the climb of Peyresourde, the Sky accelerates and breaks the group of favorites. When Froome attacks once, Alberto Contador lets go. At the top of the last difficulty, Froome goes back on the offensive and drops everyone downhill. The British, winner of the Tour in 2013 and 2015, takes 23 seconds in Nairo Quintana, Romain Bardet and the other favorites and endorses the Yellow Jersey. He will not let go

1 – Geraint THOMAS (GBR / SKY) – in 49: 24'43 ''

2 – Chris FROOME (GBR / SKY) – at 1 '38' '

3 – Tom DUMOULIN (PBS / SUN) – at 1'50 ''

4 – Primoz ROGLIC (SLO / TLJ) – at 2'46 ''

5 – Romain BARDET (FRA / ALM) – at 3'07 ''

• • Green jersey : Peter SAGAN (SVK / BOR)

  • Jersey with polka dots : Julian ALAPHILIPPE (FRA / QST)

  • White jersey : Pierre LATOUR (FRA / ALM)

• The schedules TV

  • On France Televisions : on France 2 with 11:05, then on France 3 with 12:50, and finally on France 2 with 15 hours. Followed by Vélo Club at 5:05 pm

  • On Eurosport : at 11:25 on Eurosport 1. Followed by the Kings of the Pedal at 5:00 pm