LE TOUR A VAL D'ISERE

Given its fame, it's perhaps surprising that the Manchester United of skiing has only hosted two Tour arrivals, in 1963 (below) and in 1996, the day after Indurain's nightmare on the way to Les Arcs.

Here's some (silent) video of the 1963 stage, including the Col de l'Iseran at 5'40".  The stage was won by Spaniard Fernando Mazaneque.

1996 saw a relatively unusual mountain time trial stage, on what is (by Alpine standards) the pretty dull road between Bourg St Maurice and Val d'Isere.

The next day brought snow, which meant the planned epic stage over the Iseran and Galibier to Sestriere had to be shortened.  Riis won and went on to win the Tour - overview here.   Details of Riis's later confession to having taken drugs here.

Val d'Isere has also been a ville départ, in 1963 (to Chamonix) and in 2007 (to Briancon).