Le Teil to Mont Aigoual

Stage 6 - Thursday, 3 September - 191 km (119 mi)

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The Stage

Don't ask me why, but I feel like a few GC contenders are going to lose more than a few seconds here.

Winner: Alexey Lutsenko

Tour Touristique

Alba-la-Romaine
This town was founded in Roman times and bore the name Alba Helviorum ("Alba of the Helvii," an ancient Celtic people). It was the capital of the Helvii and became the episcopal see during the 4th century. The discovery of imported ceramics such as collars, handles, and lips of wine amphorae from Italy and some Allobrogian currency issued in the third quarter of the 1st century AD revealed a long term relationship with the Romans before the invasion.

Inside the village fortifications, dating from the 13th century, a labyrinth of narrow cobbled and vaulted alleys reveals the charm of two-tone architecture, like a checkerboard of black basalt stones and white limestone. Most of the houses were built in the 16th and 17th centuries, but some are even older. Inscriptions, decorated door lintels or biblical reliefs each whisper their story to the attentive stroller.

Cocalière cave
One of the most spectacular caves in France. The first discoverers of the cave were the prehistoric men who left material evidence of their forays (bones, tools, pottery ...). The first explorer whose writings are to be found was Jules de Malbos (1854), an Ardèche naturalist who entered through the natural orifice, Aven de la Cocalhère. He also discovered other branches of the underground system such as the Ghoul of Sauvas.

Mont Aigoual weather station
The last mountain weather station still inhabited in France, at 1,567 meters above sea level, the observatory offers a remarkable point of view (a quarter of France) and overlooks an immense national forest rich in species.

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