 The most favourite of these was probably Charly Gaul, who had won the 1956 Giro d'Italia, although he was in a weak team, and would also be aiming for the mountains classification.The 1956 Tour de France started on 5 July, and had two rest days, in Bordeaux and Aix-les-Provence.The highest point of elevation in the race was at the summit of the Col d'Izoard mountain pass on stage 17.