Few towns command a greater slice of Tour history than Pau, and the race will roll from its environs on the northern outskirts of the Pyrenees for the 65th time next year. The stage contains only two climbs, but both are monumental, with the 17km slog to the 2,115m summit of the Col du Tourmalet first on the menu after less than 80km. Having crested and descended the Tourmalet, the riders will pedal onwards towards Hautacam and their second ordeal of the day.
The 13.6km crawl to the 1,520m summit in the ski resort of Hautacam unfolds at an average gradient of 7.8 per cent, but includes three sections that reach double figures, which could provide a spring board for those truly blessed with climbing talent. Its upward trajectory continues to the finish line, which could see a desperate squabble for seconds among the GC contenders if the race still hangs in the balance, or a gift to specialists like Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) should those with an eye on the overall prize be content to wait for…
