The Tour de France continues today with another stage in the Pyrenees from Pau to Cauterets – Vallée de Saint-Savin. The riders will cover 188 kilometres taking in six categorised climbs including the mighty Col du Tourmalet, the penultimate climb of the day.
The Tourmalet is rated HC, the highest possible ranking for a climb. In addition, they will tackle one Category 4 climb, three Category 3 climbs, and the Col d’Aspin which is rated Category 1.
The climbs are as follows:
Km 48.5 – Côte de Loucrup – 2 kilometre-long climb at 7% – category 3
Km 61.5 – Côte de Bagnères-de-Bigorre – 1.4 kilometre-long climb at 6.1% – category 4
Km 74.5 – Côte de Mauvezin – 2.7 kilometre-long climb at 6% – category 3
Km 117.0 – Col d’Aspin (1 490 m) – 12 kilometre-long climb at 6.5% – category 1
Km 147.0 – Col du Tourmalet (2 115 m) Souvenir Jacques Goddet – 17.1 kilometre-long climb at 7.3% – category H
Km 184.5 – Côte de Cauterets – 6.4 kilometre-long climb at 5% – category 3
After yesterday’s dominating display by Team Sky, it will be up to the other teams to try and attack Chris Froome. If anybody tries today, then the final climb to Cauterets will be too late to try and take back any serious time. At an average gradient of 5% and at just 6.4 kilometres long, it will not seriously test Froome. It’s the preceeding two climbs which will cause riders difficulties.
Today will offer any riders who have given up on their GC hopes an opportunity to salvage something from the Tour, and we could possibly see a breakaway staying away today. A significant amount of King of the Mountains points will be available, so we may see who has ambitions on winning the polka dot jersey.
The likes of Ryder Hesjedal, Dan Martin, Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot who all slipped down on GC yesterday may get some freedom to target a stage victory and points for the mountains jersey.
