The race was rated as a 2.1 event as part of the 2016 UCI Europe Tour.

The champion of the 2015 Étoile de Bessèges, Bob Jungels, did not take part in the 2016 event as his team, Etixx–Quick-Step, was not among those invited.

[1] The first two stages were won in sprints by Bryan Coquard (Direct Énergie), giving him the lead of the race.

His teammate, Sylvain Chavanel, won a reduced sprint on the following stage to take over the race lead.

He retained this lead in the following stage, won in a breakaway by Ángel Madrazo (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA).