Stage 16 could be the key to the 2006 Tour. The crucial linchpin stage begins by immediately ascending the immense Galibier, then descends over 60km to attack the Beyond Category Col de la Croix-de-Fer, then the transition climb of Col du Mollard, and then down to St.Jean-de-Maurienne to the final ascent of the new climb up to the ski station of La Toussuire. It's not a steep grade at 6% but it is 18.4km long, which could lead to big gaps at the finish. It will be time for riders like Valverde to make up some time before the final TT.
Mountains
More about race
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A battle of seconds or a blow-out? Tour Down Under opportunists hedge their bets ahead stage 3 challenge
Georg Zimmermann and Patrick Konrad move into top 5 in GC after fighting for intermediate bonus seconds on stage 2 -
'I knew he was fast but he surprises me' - No throwing in towel for Matthew Brennan as Tour Down Under climbs ramp up
19-year-old from Great Britain has already stepped onto the podium and into the white jersey in his first WorldTour race -
'My legs were screaming' - Patience pays off for Sam Welsford with second consecutive win at Tour Down Under
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider credits new training regime for second stage win at WorldTour race and third victory in a week -
As it happened: Australian sprints to back-to-back win on Tour Down Under stage 2
Don't miss all the action from the hilly circuit race around Tanuda
