Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Valence

Stage 13 - Friday, 20 July - 169 km (105 mi)

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The Stage

If the weather is hot then things might get a little crazy today. Many riders will be happy to leave the mountains behind but if the peleton really pushes then some will be left in the dust.

Winner: Peter Sagan

Tour Touristique

The Vercors caves are a set of long, narrow caves situated in the Alps, in South-Eastern France. The caves are known for having the largest cave entrance in Europe.

The total area with the caves extends to around 400 square miles (1000 square kilometres) with a depth of up to 1271 metres (4170 feet). The surrounding area around the caves is the largest karst area in Europe. The caves are formed because of the Cretaceous limestone throughout the caves, that is up to 400 metres (1300 feet) thick at some points.

The caves passages are a mix of large, old and dry tunnels, full of calcite deposits with narrow streamways and waterfalls.

Probably the most famous and deepest cave in the region is the Gouffre Berger cave. This cave includes the narrow shafts, descending into the Grand Galerie, which itself is home to very large and very old stalagmites. This particular system follows the slope of the limestone beds for 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), until it meets the flooded area of the Cuves de Sassenage.

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