Tour de France Stage 13 Preview
FRIDAY, JULY 15TH – STAGE 13 – 37.5km
Profile Bourg-Saint-Andéol / La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc 37.5KM
Last km Bourg-Saint-Andéol / La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc 37.5KM
The Start:
Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Situated on the shores of the Rhône, the common is used to cycling races. The pack gathers there at the beginning of the season for the start of the Classic Sud Ardèche. During the 2015 edition of the race, Argentina’s Eduardo Sepúlveda had captured the win. Little did he know that five years earlier one of his compatriots had triumphed in Bourg-Saint-Andéol: sprinter Juan José Haedo had indeed claimed a stage of the 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Bourg-Saint-Andéol, classé village de caractère (© Département Ardèche-Grégoire Édouard)
County town in a canton of the Ardèche (07)
7,500 inhabitants (Bourguésans)
320,930 inhabitants in the ArdècheEconomy: Headquarters of Ardatem-Gerard Perrier Industry (nuclear energy, maintenance of electrical systems and automation systems for industry)Culture: Bishop’s Palace (15th century fort within which lies the Margotton Museum), Saint-Andéol Church (11th century) and its 17th century organ, Saint-Polycarpe chapel (ninth century), former convent of the Visitation, private mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries, 19th century laundry on the Tourne, dolmenic necropolis (six dolmens dating from 3,000 to 2,000 years BC), Roman bas-relief of the god Mithras carved in rock (third century), Vallon de Tourne (caving area), La Cascade (centre of clowning arts and the circus). Festivals: Bouteille en bretelles (accordion and similar instruments), Cordes en ballade (itinerant music festival in Ardèche)Sport: The Blade of Bergoïata (fencing), Ball Trap Bourguesan (clay pigeon shooting – Melany Molla was European champion in 2013). Events: International Pétanque
Specialities: Wine production (IGP Ardèche, AOC Côtes du Rhône, AOC Côtes du Vivarais), six domains or wine cellars in the town and 14 within the municipality
Sustainable development: ViaRhôna cycle path
Distinctions: 4-star internet town, two-star floral town
La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc
Well before the wheel was invented, prehistoric men expressed themselves on the walls of the Chauvet grotto, drawing animal representationsamong the oldest and the best preserved. It is considered as the first ever art gallery in the world (36,000 years old). The Caverne du Pont-d’Arc is a replica of the grotto opened to the public. Close-by, Vallon-Pont-d’Arc remains in the mind of Jérémy Roy who had won a stage of Paris-Nice there back in 2009.
Stage town for the 1st time
The Pont d’Arc cave, a replica of the prehistoric Chauvet cave is located within Vallon Pont d’Arc in the Ardèche (07)
2,500 inhabitants (Vallonnais), 14,500 inhabitants within the 19 communes comprising the Gorges de l’Ardèche municipality
320,930 inhabitants in the Ardèche
Economy: Tourism (Ardèche provides inland France’s largest offering of outdoor accommodation), viticulture, organic cosmetics (Melvita)
Culture: Chauvet-Pont d’Arc cave (prehistoric cave dating back to 32,000 BC), the Pont d’Arc cave (a replica of the Chauvet cave), Pont d’Arc (rock arch), dolmens at Saint-Remèze and Saint-Alban Auriolles, Château de Roure (15th century) in Labastide-de-Virac, Château de Vogüé (15th century), prehistoric city at Aven d’Orgnac, lavender museum at Saint-Remèze. Festivals: Ardeche Aluna Festival (music) in Ruoms, Labeaume en musiques (classical music)
Sport: Vallon Plein Air (canoeing and kayaking, the club of 2004 Olympic slalom champion Benoît Peschier). Events: International Marathon of the Ardèche Gorge (canoeing and kayaking), Ardèche Gorge Triathlon, Boucles Drôme-Ardèche et Tour de l’Ardèche féminin (cycling)
Specialities: Lavender, olives, truffles, wine (Côtes de Vivarais AOC)
Sustainability: 15km of greenways, bicycle rental, public transport
Distinctions: Chauvet-Pont d’Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ardèche Gorge is listed as one of the Grands Sites de France
Department’s slogan: “The scent of the Ardeche is in the air”
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