The 40th edition of Route du Sud will take place from 16th to 19th June 2016. There are 5 stages which will cover a total distance of 642km. There will be 15 teams taking part and will range from Pro Tour to Continental. It is the last stage race before Le Tour de France and some of the Pro Tour riders use it as final preparation. The race will be live on Eurosport in 60 countries and up to 10,000,000 viewers are expected each day. Eurosport also plan to stream live video from onboard the riders bikes.

16 June- Stage 1 : Saint-Pons-de-Thomières – Bessières (165,9 km)
17 June Stage 2 : Saint-Pierre-de-Trivisy – Albi (92,4 km)
17 June Stage 3 : CLM individuel à Albi-Le Séquestre (13,4 km) Time Trial
18 June Stage 4 : Saint-Gaudens – Val d’Azun Couraduque (184,9 km)
19 June Stage 5 : Gers Astarac Arros-en-Gascogne (154,8 km)

Route du Sud 2016

Stage 4 on Saturday 18th June, is undoubtedly the queen stage, with 184km from Saint Gaudens to Val d’Azun. The route will climb Col du Tourmalet from the easier eastern side, before climbing Col des Bordères from Pierrefitte, which will take the race through Saint-Savin. Borderés is well known to guests of Pyrenees Cycling lodge. The last 3km are lots of cycling fun. By fun I mean pain! The finish will be on Col de Couraduque, a hidden gems of the Pyrénées.

Route du Sud on Col du Tourmalet in 2014

https://velopeloton.com/photo-gallery/index.php?/category/2015rds

Col de Couraduque

Couraduque has been mentioned in the same sentence as TDF in recent years, as a possible stage finish. Le Tour has often used Route du Sud as a test for future Tour stages. In 2014 they had a stage finish at Lac de Payolle which will now host Le Tour on 8th July this year. Christian Prudhomme the director of Le Tour often travels in the car with the director of Route du Sud, so it will be interesting to see who is in the race director’s car on 18th June.

Col de Couraduque. Not the full story as the 9km before this has 415m of climbing.

Stage 4 Route du Sud 2016

Stage 4 Map – Route du Sud 2016

Col de Couraduque Profile

For the 2017 Tour de France, I have already heard talk of Luz Ardiden as a stage finish. As Le Tour should be here in the last week I would expect 2 finishes in the region. Perhaps Couraduque will get a day in the sun.

Christian Prudhomme at the 2015 Route de Sud

This will be the first time that a pro race has finished up there. From Aucun is is only 6.8km to the finish but it is a great road and the views are awesome. It starts off very steep before a 5% section at 4km to go and then ramps up to 8+ for the last 3km.

Francis Auriac

The race will be a tribute to its founder Francis Auriac who passed away earlier this year. He has run the race since 1977. RIP. The race is sponsored by La Dépêche du Midi a regional daily published in Toulouse.

Alberto Contador leads Route du Sud 2015 out of Lourdes

Winners

1977		Jacques Esclassan (FRA)	Peugeot-Esso-Michelin
1978		Pierre-Raymond Villemiane (FRA)	Renault-Gitane
1979		Yvon Bertin (FRA)	Renault-Gitane
1980		Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)	Peugeot-Esso-Michelin
1981		Jean-René Bernaudeau (FRA)	Peugeot-Esso-Michelin
1982		Francesco Moser (ITA)	Famcucine
1983		Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)	Peugeot-Shell-Michelin
1984		Pascal Simon (FRA)	Peugeot-Shell-Michelin
1985		Stephen Roche (IRL)	La Redoute
1986		Niki Rüttimann (SUI)	La Vie Claire
1987		Régis Clere (FRA)	Teka
1988		Ronan Pensec (FRA)	Z-Peugeot
1989		Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)	Z-Peugeot
1990		Yves Bonnamour (FRA)	Castorama
1991		Laurent Dufaux (SUI)	Helvetia-La Suisse
1992		Arturas Kasputis (LTU)	Postobon
1993		Eric Boyer (FRA)	Gan
1994		Álvaro Mejía (COL)	Motorola
1995		Laurent Dufaux (SUI)	Festina-Lotus
1996		Laurent Jalabert (FRA)	O.N.C.E.
1997		Patrick Jonker (AUS)	Rabobank
1998		Armand De Las Cuevas (FRA)	Banesto
1999		Jonathan Vaughters (USA)	US Postal Service
2000		Tomasz Brożyna (POL)	Banesto
2001		Andrei Kivilev (KAZ)	Cofidis
2002		Levi Leipheimer (USA)	Rabobank
2003		Michael Rogers (AUS)	Quick Step-Davitamon
2004		Bradley McGee (AUS)	FDJeux.com
2005		Sandy Casar (FRA)	Française des Jeux
2006		Thomas Voeckler (FRA)	Bouygues Télécom
2007		Óscar Sevilla (ESP)	Relax-GAM
2008		Daniel Martin (IRL)	Slipstream-Chipotle
2009		Przemysław Niemiec (POL)	Miche-Silver Cross
2010		David Moncoutié (FRA)	Cofidis
2011		Vasil Kiryienka (BLR)	Movistar Team
2012		Nairo Quintana (COL)	Movistar Team
2013		Thomas Voeckler (FRA)	Team Europcar
2014		Nicola Roche (IRL)	Team Tinkoff
2015		Alberto Contador (ESP)	Team Tinkoff