 It was scheduled to be used in 1996 but was left out at the last minute due to bad weather.As a result of snow on both the Col de l'Iseran and the Col du Galibier the scheduled stage from Val-d'Isère to Sestriere in Italy was truncated to a sprint from Le-Monetier-les-Bains.Bjarne Riis claimed the sprint, resulting in him taking the yellow jersey which he retained to the finish in Paris.