Tour de France 2016 Favourites stage 12: Battle between the Big Guys

In stage 12 of the 2016 Tour de France it's not only about time as there's prestige involved also. The race finishes on top of the magical mountain Mont Ventoux and we should expect a battle between the big guys. In 2013 Chris Froome outperformed his competion, is he going do it again? (Slideshow route/profile)

With 130 kilometres done the riders can warm up on the preliminary uphill sections at Côte de Gordes and Col des Trois, but the real fight will take off at Mont Ventoux. Without a doubt the battle will rage between the big names in the 2016 Tour de France. Except for time there is al lot more to win at the Ventoux, namely prestige. Tons of it.

2013 was the last time La Grande Boucle visited the Mont Ventoux. The overall winner in that edition, Chris Froome, did win the stage, finishing half a minute ahead of Nairo Quintana, while Froome’s current teammate Mikel Nieve (then Euskaltel) finished in third.

Thibaut Pinot will be the French hope on Bastille Day. He started La Grande Boucle as a favourite for the podium, but his ambitions turned sour in the Pyrenees. Is he able to bounce back to detonate the brightest fireworks in France, even before night falls?

Favourites 12th stage Tour de France 2016:

*** Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana
** Thibaut Pinot, Richie Porte, Joaquim Rodriguez, Fabio Aru
* Tejay van Garderen, Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil, Rafal Majka