Tour de France 2008 Stage 16 - Cuneo, Italy to Jausiers, France

Tuesday July 22, 2008

Today's stage crosses the Italian and French Alps, and cyclists are pedaling through the highest pass in all of Europe before a steep downhill race. The days' cycling begins in Cuneo, Italy and ends in Jausiers, France. This is also, incidentally, passing some of Europe's most breathtaking scenery.

The Tour de France description of Cuneo:

Surrounded by a breathtaking Alpine scenery, Cuneo will enchant you with its colorful and fragrant streets. Founded in 1198, the town owes its name to the shape of the high plateau (534m) on which it stands, at the confluence of the Gesso torrent and the Stura river. Any visit must include Piazza Galimberti, the large square where the renowned Tuesday market takes place, Via Roma, the main street in the old town with its well-preserved medieval archway, the cathedral, the city hall and the city tower.
Corso Nizza, with its lovely shops, lies at the center of the new town, while Viale degli Angeli is lined with villas typical of the late 19th century. Finally, be sure to enjoy the numerous delicacies of the region : Cuneesi (rum flavored pralines), chestnuts, mushrooms, wines, cheeses...

Here is the blurb about Jausiers:

Lying in the Ubaye valley very close to Cuneo in Italy, smallest town to hold a Tour de France stage finish (barely 1,000 inhabitants!), situated at the foot of Europe’s highest road (2,802 m), Jausiers relishes in combining Provence with the Alps. Having sent many immigrants to Louisiana and Mexico as far back as the 19th century, Jausiers boasts many a grandiose home, built by its native sons who came back having made their fortune.
Like the paradise lost, the Ubaye valley and Jausiers are reached through seven passes well known to cyclists, notably Bonette-Restefond, Allos and Cayolle. Situated in the Mercantour national park, Jausiers is much blessed: the purest air for all aerial sports, crystal-clear water for all white-water activities, hiking and mountain biking trails. The surrounding summits cast their reflection on the majestic lake. In the nearby crafts center, the delicacies of the Ubaye valley are sure to tempt many a visitor.