Romain Bardet was present at the presentation of the 2016 Tour de France. The French rider will be the Ag2r-La Mondiale leader. According to the French media, he has studied the route of the 2016 edition in great detail. He explained that a few stages like the Grand Colombier stage suit him

"I am very enthusiastic. It is a beautiful course, with difficulties almost continuously for three weeks. On paper, the first week is faster than in other years. Then we arrive in Auvergne, on my roads (Bardet was born in Brioude, Haute-Loire), which will begin to draw the general classification. The third week is still very difficult in the Alps, with stages that we know less and require reconnaissaince ride, as it will be on small roads, scabrous descents that can blow up the race."

He added that the second individual team trial is reassuring for him. "It's almost an uphill ITT. It is for climbers, for sure. The first (13th stage at 37 kilometers) is complicated on roads in Ardèche I know well."

Bardet will not do the same calendar in 2016 to prepare for the Tour de France. "It takes a bit of novelty every year to avoid falling into a classic pattern that is too tiring, so I'll change a few things, but not to upset the whole program ... Every time, I make sure to get ready for the first week."