In recent years, the gateway to the Midi has become a sprinter’s paradise, witnessing successive victories for André Greipel, Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish and Jonathan Milan. Yet, Charly Mottet’s hometown has shown that it can accommodate every kind of rider. Colombian José Jaime Gonzalez emerged as the winner from a breakaway group when Valence first appeared on the Tour map in 1996. Classics specialists of the calibre of Freddy Maertens and Sean Kelly also made the most of opportunities there during the Critérium du Dauphiné, while pure climber Romain Bardet celebrated victory there in the first edition of the Drôme Classic in 2014. The all-conquering Tadej Pogačar won the road race at the 2025 European Championships in Valence, while Remco Evenepoel dominated the time trial.
- Stage town for the 6th time
- Prefecture of Drôme (26)
- Population: 65,000
- valence.fr • valenceromansagglo.fr
