Mont Ventoux set for return to Tour de France in 2016 on Bastille Day

The mayor of Bedoin confirms he will attend the Tour de France route presentation - a strong hint that Mont Ventoux will host the 2016 race

Chris Froome on Mont Ventoux, stage 15 of the 2013 Tour de France (Photo: Graham Watson)

(Image credit: Watson)

Mont Ventoux featured heavily in the 2015 Tour de France, what with the videos circulating claiming to show Chris Froome's power data while climbing the mountain in the 2013 edition.

Froome's winning ride on the mountain was the last time it has featured in the Tour route, but reports suggest that the race will head back to the mountain in Provence in 2016.

One of the Tour's most iconic mountains could feature on one of the most iconic days of the race - Bastille Day, the French national day.

Although few details of the 2016 race route have been confirmed, the mayor of Bedoin, where the 21.8km ascent of the mountain starts, dropped a large hint.

"Nothing is official yet, but it seems that the rise will be by Bedoin since I just received my invitation to attend the official presentation in Paris," he told La Provence. Only towns who are hosting a stage start or finish are invited to the presentation.

Ventoux is set to host the Tour for a 15th time, with nine of those occasions seeing the stage finish at the top of the bald mountain.

The only two stages currently confirmed for the 2016 Tour are for the Grand Départ in Normandy, with stage one starting on Mont-Saint-Michel.

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.