Stage 16 – Montpellier to Mont Ventoux – 172km. Tuesday 15th July
Total Climb: 2,900m

Everyone will focus on the fact that this stage finishes at the top of Mont Ventoux, but for most the day it’ll be a very different riding experience, with a gently rolling route that takes us through the delightful landscape of southern Provence. It’s an opportunity to enjoy one of France’s many cycling heartlands, and we’ll be treated to fields of lavender and rolling vineyards as we move into the fertile Rhône Valley. Provence has some of the world’s most impressive Roman remains, and the same golden stone has been used to build the region’s many hilltop villages, as well as larger towns, where you’ll want to slow down to savour the architecture.

It’s a day of many rivers: we leave Montpellier via the Lez (popular with canoeists), crossing the tranquil Vidourle at Quissac, and the Gardon at Moussac – but the one you’ll remember is the glistening Rhône, whose waters have defined this part of France for millennia. Wine buffs will be delighted to know that our route includes the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where a dramatic hilltop castle overlooks world-famous vineyards, and most of our hearts will flutter as we catch our first glimpses of the Giant of Provence, looming above the lavender fields and tree-lined streets of Bédoin.

Ventoux isn’t just famous for its looks – the wind-blasted scree slopes and the red-and-white tower – it’s also one of the most challenging climbs of the Tour. The lower stretches hover around 9-10%, and although the gradient lessens slightly as you emerge from the trees at Chalet Reynard, you’ll then have the fearsome Provençal wind to contend with, plus the cruel kicker in the final 2km, where the road ramps back up to 9.5%. The views from the top will make it all worth the struggle, and you’ll want to linger here, to cheer on your fellow riders as they battle up to the summit.

Tour logistics
Start: Montpellier hotel
Finish: Malaucene (Ventoux) hotel

Stage 17 – Bollène to Valence – 161km. Wed 16th July
Total Climb: not yet published

Don’t get too complacent about this so-called flat stage. We’re too close to the mountains for the Tour to be able to resist adding a few lumps and bumps, though in many cases we’ll be riding between the hills rather than over them, making this a scenic ride that offers a lot of bang for relatively little buck.

The morning involves a fair bit more up than down but as Valence is only 60m higher in altitude than Bollene, the good news is that the latter half of the day will seem much easier on the legs.

Our morning ride takes us through the arid landscape of northern Provence, with wide views over sweeping vineyards and the occasional burst of yellow gorse. We steadily gain height (over 500m in the first 50km) as we move out of the Rhône valley and into the Baronnies Provençales. This small range of limestone mountains, perched on the edge of the Alps, is known for the wide variety of herbs that are grown and harvested here, so we can expect to inhale the scents of thyme, rosemary and lavender as we make our way through its quiet valleys.

We’ll briefly descend out of the hills for visits to the historic stone villages of Marsanne and Cléon-d’Andran, passing small hamlets and very few cars on the way. And then a scenic climb of around 5km takes us up the rim of the valley, and over the top via a luscious descent to the river Drôme. The rest of this stage will pass quickly as the final hour of the ride is on fast, flat roads, so you’ll arrive in Valence full of the joys of cycling .

Tour logistics
Start: Short transfer to Bollene
Finish: Valence hotel