The race begins on the descent before the uphill party gets going on the Col de Port (11.4 kilometres at 5.1%). The race also includes the Col de la Core (13.1 kilometres at 6.6%) and Col de Portet d’Aspet (5.4 kilometres at 7.1%), but that’s it in terms of big climbs.
The Portet d’Aspet is crested at kilometre 136.5, with more than 30 kilometres left to race. That’s too much to expect a GC battle of the climb, so chances are that the breakaway will be given enough freedom to fight for the stage honours.
Probably, the strongest attackers head out together on the Portet d’Aspet before the Côte de d’Aspret-Sarrat could decide on the stage win. The 800 metres climb at 8.4% appears 7.8 kilometres before the finish line in Saint Gaudens.
Favourites stage 16 Tour de France 2021
*** Julian Alaphilippe, Thomas De Gendt, Mattia Cattaneo, Wout van Aert
** Bauke Mollema, Ion Izagirre, Dylan Teuns, Matej Mohoric, Patrick Konrad
* Sergio Higuita, Jakob Fuglsang, Neilson Powless, Ruben Guerreiro, Lukas Pöstlberger
Another interesting read: route 16th stage 2021 Tour de France.
Tour de France 2021 stage 16: profile & finish
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