The race route for the 1986 edition of the Tour de France was unveiled on October 8th, 1985 by both Jacques Goddet and Félix Lévitan…..as the race’s holding was pushed back a week from its normal date in order to prevent overlap with the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Covering a total of 4,094 km / 2,544 mi…. which included four time trials….with three individual and one for teams….along with ten stages deemed as flat…..while the race included four stages that featured a summit finish….with Stage 13 to Superbagnères…..Stage 17 to Col du Granon….Stage 18 to Alpe d’Huez….and stage 21 to Puy de Dôme.
Tour director Levitan felt after the 1985 Tour de France that the race had been too easy….so they made the course in 1986 extra difficult….which included more mountain climbs than ever before…..which angered five time champions FRA Bernard Hinault….who threatened to skip the 1986 Tour. Before the race started an avalanche caused a large amount of dirt and rock to be deposited on the slopes of the Col du Tourmalet….which caused Goddet to consider crossing the Col d’Aubisque instead.
