Stage 17 Gap – Pinerolo (191.5km) Stage 17 is unique in that there is a cluster of significant climbs in the middle of the stage, and then there are 40 kilometers of generally downhill roads leading to one final Category 2 climb. The Cote de Pra Martino features some of the steepest pitches in the …
Stage 16: Saint Paul Trois Chateaux – Gap (162.5km) Stages like this are often referred to as “transition” stages. They’re not easy, but they’re not terribly hard, and they move the peloton from one type of terrain to another – typically into the mountains. Stage 16 introduces the peloton to the Alps, and gradually …
Stage 15: Limoux – Montpellier (193km) With the Pyrenees behind them and rest day immediately in front of them, there will be some riders who are happy to take it easy on Stage 15 and other riders who want to take advantage of tomorrow’s rest day by going full-gas today. And to make matters worse …
Stage 14: Saint Gaudens – Plateau de Beille The Plateau de Beille climbs for nearly 16 kilometers at an average gradient of 7.9%. It’s steepest for the first six kilometers, and there are a few steep pitches further up, before the climb levels out to just 2.5 percent over the final kilometer (hence the plateau…). …
Stage 13: Pau – Lourdes (152.5km) The Col d’ Aubisque is a massive and very difficult climb, but during Stage 13 it is unlikely to cause a shake-up in the overall race for the yellow jersey. The summit of the climb is more than 40 kilometers from the finish line, and it is likely that …
Stage 12: Cugnaux – Luz Ardiden (211 km) The first of three stages in the Pyrenees is guaranteed to be a very hard day. The stage is long (211km), the first 120 kilometers are gradually uphill before you even reach the base of the first major climb, and once you do there are three giants …
Stage 11: Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur (167.5 km) Stage 11 is the last hurrah for the sprinters before they go to the back of the pack and suffer through the mountains. A breakaway will certainly go up the road and stay there for most of the day, but it will almost as certainly be reeled in …
Stage 10: Aurillac – Carmaux (161km) Stage 10 is relatively short and doesn’t feature any major difficulties that would offer opportunities for the yellow jersey contenders. And with the Pyrenees looming in the distance, many riders and teams will be happy to let a breakaway have the day. Knowing this, the competition to be …
Stage 9: Issoire – Saint-Flour (208km) This is going to be a very hard stage, even though there are no huge mountain passes to climb. Instead, there is an endless succession of smaller climbs, punctuated by bigger Category 2 and 3 climbs. Days like this are sometimes harder than major climbing stages because there is …
Stage 8: Aigurande – Super Besse (189km) The Central Massif region of France is a difficult place to ride a bike. The roads are constantly undulating, and then routes are punctuated by longer ascents. Stage 8 will be the first time the 2011 Tour de France encounters a Category 2 climb, in this case the …