2025 Tour de France Stage 16 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 16 of the 2025 Tour de France! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
The Beast of Provence returns! Starting in Montpellier, riders face a 172-kilometre course culminating on one of the most iconic mountains in Tour history.
In 2016, a stage was also set from Montpellier to the summit of Mont Ventoux. However, due to fierce winds on the mountain's exposed upper slopes, the finish was relocated to Chalet Reynard, situated halfway up, at the edge of the forest. The race evolved into a blend of drama and cycling competition, with Thomas De Gendt claiming victory from a breakaway, but it reached an extraordinary peak as yellow jersey holder Chris Froome ascended the mountain after a crash—first running, then riding a bike too small for him.
Now, five years later, the Tour returns to the Ventoux, once again celebrating a Belgian victory. Wout van Aert dominated the race, winning solo after tackling a double ascent of the Bald Mountain, finishing with a descent into Malaucène.
This time, the route is much easier. The riders traverse flat terrains from Montpellier to Bédoin, located at the base of the Ventoux. The climb spans 15.7 kilometres, featuring an average gradient of 8.8%. The initial woodland section is particularly grueling—3 kilometres at nearly 10%—before easing to a 7.5% incline over the next 7 kilometres. After Chalet Reynard, the landscape transforms into a barren, lunar-like terrain devoid of vegetation as if ascending the moon. This section extends about 6 kilometres and rises at nearly 8%. The final 1.5 kilometres climb at close to 10%.
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