Tour de France 2025 Stage 16: Why 7 Riders Fear Ventoux

Table of Contents

Mont Ventoux is back. After a 12-year absence as a summit finish, the “Giant of Provence” returns for what promises to be an explosive and decisive chapter in the 2025 Tour de France. Stage 16 from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux is not just a bike race; it’s a date with destiny, a brutal examination of mind and body that will irrevocably shape the battle for the yellow jersey.

Welcome to the third week of the Tour de France, with Tiz Cycling the crucible where Grand Tours are won and lost. Following a much-needed rest day, the peloton faces a 171.5km “road stage with a rolling profile” that culminates in one of cycling’s most revered and feared ascents. This is where the true Tour de France 2025 Stage 16 begins, a day designed for a pure, unadulterated “mountain showdown” that could etch new legends into the scorched slopes of the Bald Mountain.

Stages immediately following a rest day are notorious for their capacity to generate “surprising results.” Riders’ bodies respond differently to the pause, and what seems like a welcome respite can often scramble the established order. As the race enters its final, attritional phase, the “Grand Tour specialists” will rise. This Category 3 monster, offering 30 precious points for the polka dot jersey at its summit, is the perfect arena for the fight to intensify. The GC hierarchy, carefully constructed over the challenging stages leading up to this point, including the demanding Tour de France 2025 Stage 14 and the transitional Tour de France 2025 Stage 15, is about to be profoundly tested.

The Stage 16 Route: From Montpellier’s History to Ventoux’s Ascent

Start City: Montpellier – A City of Deep Roots and Evolution

Our journey begins in Montpellier, a city steeped in history that has hosted the Tour 30 times. Founded in the late 10th century, its strategic Mediterranean location and “pro-trade policies” saw it blossom into France’s second-largest city by the 13th century. Its Tour de France footprint is equally significant. While it hasn’t featured since 2016, that year provided an unforgettable moment when Peter Sagan launched a late, audacious attack, dragging yellow jersey Chris Froome with him. The chaos that ensued, with the finish moved to Chalet Reynard due to high winds, led to Froome’s memorable “running” incident after a crash with a race moto.

The Flat Run-in (155km): A Deceptive Calm

The first 155 kilometers of the stage present a façade of calm. The route charts a course on a “long, flat run-in through the Rhône Valley,” a deliberate design that bypasses major urban centers. This often leads to a “very slow day” in the peloton, a collective holding of breath before the inevitable storm. The main point of interest before the final climb is the intermediate sprint after 112.4km in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a town famous for its papal castle, a remnant of the 14th-century Avignon Papacy. While the route cleverly avoids the “windswept Camargue,” which is “prime echelon terrain,” mitigating the risk of “decisive splits,” the summit of Ventoux itself remains “infamously windy,” a factor that can neutralize attacks and “somewhat kill the racing sometimes.”

The Ascent of Mont Ventoux: The Giant of Provence

This is it. The “hardest and most iconic climb” of the 2025 Tour. Mont Ventoux is more than a mountain; it’s a monument. Its difficulty, the “sheer aura of the landscape,” and its suitability for long-range attacks make it legendary. Spanning 21.2km at an average gradient of 7.5%, its true punishment lies in the final 15.7km, which averages an excruciating “almost 9%.” With 1600 vertical meters of climbing, it is a relentless test of power and endurance.

The mountain is a theater of cycling history, having witnessed nine stage finishes and countless dramas:

• Tragedy: The heart-breaking death of British rider Tom Simpson from heatstroke in 1967.
• Unusual Victories: Eros Poli’s monumental solo win in 1994 after gaining over 20 minutes on the peloton.
• Controversial Moments: The debate over Lance Armstrong “gifting” a win to Marco Pantani in 2000, and Chris Froome’s desperate run in 2016.

For years, the climbing record set by Iban Mayo in the 2004 Dauphiné time trial was considered “unbeatable.” However, recent times suggest the impossible might be possible. Miguel Ángel López and Ruben Guerreiro have both come tantalizingly close, suggesting this long-standing benchmark “might not be unassailable anymore.” Could today be the day?

The General Classification Battle: Favorites & Predictions

The Showdown: Pogačar vs. Vingegaard

All eyes are on the two titans of modern cycling. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), fresh from a “dominant victory” at the Critérium du Dauphiné, looks unstoppable. He has “all the weapons in place to win a fourth Tour” and will be aiming to go “full gas” on Ventoux. His UAE team is supremely strong, “interested in setting the pace,” and could realistically aim for multiple podium spots.

His “redoubtable foe,” Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), is the only man to have bested Pogačar at the Tour twice. Though he surrendered his title after “life-threatening injuries” earlier in the year, he is reportedly “ahead of where he was at the same point twelve months ago.” Despite a 4+ minute deficit, he is backed by a “strong Visma | Lease a Bike” squad featuring Matteo Jorgenson, Simon Yates, and Wout van Aert, and is determined to “make a race of it.”

Expect a “true FTP battle” between the two, with both “eager to attack.” The race is predicted to “explode on the middle 10% section in the forest.” Our expert prediction sees Pogačar taking the stage by “40-60 seconds” over a valiant Vingegaard.

Other Key Contenders & Team Dynamics

• Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep): Currently third overall, he’s a master at building form through a Grand Tour and could be a major threat.
• João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates): A vital “deluxe domestique” for Pogačar, yet a formidable leader in his own right, ranked fourth after a stellar season.
• Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe): The wily veteran is “flying under the radar,” but his class is permanent. His primary goal will be to remain in the hunt.
• Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe): Defending third place overall and “looking secure in white,” the young German has shown incredible consistency and durability. His role alongside Roglič will be fascinating to watch.
• Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): An “invaluable cog” for Vingegaard, whose support role will be critical on the slopes of Ventoux.

Other riders like Ben Healy (Stage 6 winner) and Carlos Rodriguez will be fighting for their own classification battles. Keep an eye on the green jersey competition, where Jonathan Milan could see his lead threatened by the versatile Pogačar on this draining stage.

How to Watch Tour de France Stage 16: Live Stream & TV Details

Don’t miss a moment of the action. Many broadcasters are showing “stage 16 of the Tour de France in full, from the first kilometre to the last.”

Global Time Schedule:

• France (Local): Start: 12:40 CET | Finish: ~16:57 CET
• UK: Start: 11:40 BST | Finish: ~15:57 BST
• US (ET): Start: 06:40 ET | Finish: ~10:57 ET
• Australia (AEST): Start: 20:40 AEST | Finish: ~00:57 AEST (Wednesday)

Streaming and VPN Information:

Check reputable cycling news outlets for a full list of official broadcasters in your region. If you’re facing geo-restrictions, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be an excellent solution. Many providers offer great deals and can unlock streams from around the world, though it’s always wise to understand the “benefits, costs, and considerations of using a VPN” before you subscribe.

Conclusion: A Day for the Record Books?

The Tour de France 2025 Stage 16 is more than just another mountain stage; it’s a pilgrimage to one of cycling’s most sacred places. The “unipuerto” format guarantees a direct, mano-a-mano confrontation on the slopes of the Bald Mountain. As Pogačar looks to cement his dominance and Vingegaard fights to keep his dream alive, we could be about to witness a moment “truly worth remembering.”

Mont Ventoux acts as a giant X-ray, its barren, lunar landscape revealing everything—strength, weakness, courage, and despair. After the deceptive calm of the rest day, only the strongest will survive its unforgiving scan. Get ready for a battle for the ages.