Stage 16: Montpellier > Mont Ventoux (July 22)

2025 TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 16

Stage 16: Montpellier → Mont Ventoux · 172 km · ≈ 2,950 m+

It’s arrived once again: the Giant of Provence. Undoubtedly one of the most fun days of the entire Tour de France whenever it’s featured.

The peloton departs from vibrant Montpellier, weaving through picturesque southern vineyards before heading north towards Bédoin, the legendary gateway to the daunting slopes of Mont Ventoux. This iconic ascent spans 15.7 kilometers at an average gradient of 8.8%, opening fiercely with the first three kilometers through dense forest averaging nearly 10%, then emerging onto the famous, barren upper slopes near Chalet Reynard.

Montpellier is steeped in history, with Roman aqueducts, medieval ramparts, and a lively cultural scene. It provides a scenic and energetic send-off for riders who face one of cycling’s most revered climbs, Mont Ventoux. Known as the "Giant of Provence," Ventoux returns to the Tour as a full summit finish for the first time since 2013.

Stage 16 accumulates around 2,950 meters of climbing, but the day's main drama centers entirely around Ventoux itself. Early flat terrain will likely limit the breakaway’s chances, ensuring a tightly controlled peloton arrives at the mountain's base ready to battle. This ascent is infamous for its relentless grade, extreme weather conditions, and stark lunar landscape.

The slopes of Mont Ventoux favor pure climbers and riders with deep reserves of strength and resilience. Expect GC contenders Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard to launch critical attacks, likely in the open expanses above Chalet Reynard. Remco Evenepoel, always a threat on steep, sustained climbs, will aim to disrupt the top riders with his trademark explosiveness.

KOM contenders will eye Ventoux hungrily, as significant points await at the summit. If allowed into the early break, climbers such as Wout Poels or Ben O’Connor may seize the opportunity to bolster their polka-dot ambitions. However, with the GC riders fighting fiercely, those hopes could fade as the elite climbers assert their dominance.

Mont Ventoux has the power to reshape a Tour. It’s a mountain that tests character as much as it tests legs, where riders battle against gravity, rivals, and their own limitations. A victory atop Ventoux could mean the yellow jersey, a secure KOM lead, or the turning point in an epic rivalry.

Expect drama, unforgettable images, and possibly decisive gaps on Stage 16. It is a day built for legends, where the strongest rise above the rest on one of cycling’s greatest stages.

See our 2025 Tour de France page for the best way to view, analyze, and filter Tour de France stage routes and climbs.

COMMENTS FROM RACE DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN PRUDHOMME - STAGE 16:

“The unusual geographical configuration of the “Giant of Provence” often makes it the only difficulty of the day. The route is quite straightforward to begin with, crossing the departments of Hérault, Gard and Vaucluse. Here, the riders will reach the road where the contest between the favourites could become a demonstration. Between the village of Bédoin and the observatory overlooking the finish line, there are 15.7km of ascent, averaging 8.7%... and chances to attack at absolutely every point.” (Tour de France Stage 16).

KOM Corner

Official post-race summary for Stage 16 (from letour.fr)

The Giant of Provence crowned one of the riders with the smallest stature in the peloton, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), whose light weight allowed him to tame the mighty slopes of the day. After an extraordinary battle with Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), the pure climber became the fifth Frenchman to win atop Mont Ventoux, and also claimed the first victory this year for the host nation. In their wake, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) traded blows, with the Danish climber and his teammates piling the pressure on the Slovenian leader of the race. Pogacar managed to resist and eventually gained a few seconds on the line. The battle goes on into the final week of the Tour 2025.

It’s the final week of the Tour, Paris is almost in sight! But before the peloton reach Paris, they have to overcome some more gruelling challenges, starting with the ascent of Mont Ventoux (15.7 km ay 8.8%). 165 riders set off from Montpellier as Alpecin Deceuninck reports Mathieu Van der Poel suffers from pneumonia.

A massive battle for the break
Attackers have some 150 kilometres on the flat to try and get a head start before they battle it out up Mont Ventoux. Wout van Aert, the last winner of a Tour stage featuring the Giant of Provence (in 2021), immediately sets off. But many more riders want to get on the move. The Belgian star is rapidly reeled in.

At km 11, Marco Haller, Marc Hirschi (Tudor) and Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) get away. Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) does everything he can to prevent further attacks but breakaway contenders are not discouraged by the German’s pressure.

After covering the first two hours at an average speed of 49.9 km/h, 32 riders eventually go clear alongside the three previous attackers: Pavel Sivakov, Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Tiesj Benoot, Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Pascal Eenkhoorn, Valentin Paret Peintre, Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-Quick Step), Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), Louis Barré (Intermarché-Wanty), Santiago Buitrago, Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Mick van Dijke (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek), Clément Russo (Groupama-FDJ), Julian Alaphilippe, Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Ewen Costiou, Raúl Garcia Pierna (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Enric Mas, Gregor Mühlberger (Movistar Team), Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), Clément Champoussin, Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana), Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL), Michael Woods, Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech), Jarrad Drizners, Brent van Moer (Lotto), Jonas Abrahamsen y Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility).

Tudor filter the break
At kilometre 105 of the stage, Trentin accelerates, followed by Alaphilippe, Wright, Arensman, Mas, Velasco, Abrahamsen and Eenkhoorn to form a leading group. The Dutch rider from Soudal-Quick Step eases off shortly afterwards to rejoin his teammates in the chasing group.

Abrahamsen goes first at the intermediate sprint at Châteauneuf-de-Pape (km 112.4), where the seven breakaway riders have a 25-second lead over their 28 pursuers and 4'55" over the peloton led by Politt. A puncture 36 kilometres from the finish line eliminates Wright from the leading group, reducing it to just six men.

Visma-Lease a Bike attack Pogacar
Alaphilippe accelerates as soon as the attackers hit the first slopes of Mont Ventoux. Mas and Arensman join him. And the Spaniard goes solo 13 kilometres away from the finish. Meanwhile, the chase group explodes with several accelerations from Valentin Paret-Peintre. The French climber proves to be the strongest climber from the chase group with Ben Healy. They catch Mas with 4 km to go.

In the peloton, Visma-Lease a Bike set a strong pace until Jonas Vingegaard attacks with 8.5 km to go. The Danish climber attacks again and again, he also finds the support of Benoot and Campenaerts… But Pogacar follows.

A thrilling finale
Healy and Paret-Peintre attack again and again but they fail to make a difference. After each attack, they look at each other. And it allows Mas, Santiago Buitrago and even Ilan Van Wilder to get back in the mix. The Belgian climber took the reins of the group inside the last kilometre to ensure Pogacar and Vingegaard wouldn’t get back.

Healy launched the sprint but Paret-Peintre passed him inside the last 100 metres to claim the first French victory in this edition. Buitrago completes the top 3 of the stage ahead of Buitrago and Van Wilder, with Pogacar crossing the line 43’’ behind the winner of the day.