Distance: 117.5 km
Climbs: 3
Points for the polka dot jersey: 51
Points for the green jersey: 40
Neutralised start: 13:30
Real start: 13:45
Estimated finish: 16:50 – 17:13
Village opening: 10:30
Dry weather. The sky will be mostly sunny over the valleys to cloudy near the passes. Temperatures : 27°C at the start, 20°C at the Soulor, 18°C at the Tourmalet. Westnorthwesterly wind 10km/h, westerly 40km/h towards the end.
Tarbes
Stage city for the 14th time, prefecture of Hautes-Pyrenees (65), 42 600 inhabitants (Tarbais), 229 000 inhabitants in Hautes-Pyrenees
In 1951, on the road to Tarbes, with the Yellow Jersey on his shoulders, Wim Van East crashed into a ravine after climbing the Col d’Aubisque. Though it caused him to lose the lead in the general classification, he escaped this dramatic accident with his life. Two years before his death, in 2001, a monument was built on the Col d’Aubisque in memory of his fall.
The ‘Petits As’ is central to the reputation of Tarbes. Considered to be the unofficial junior world championships, each year it brings together the best young tennis players in the world. In 2017, the tournament extended its international outreach thanks to the organisation of the first play-offs in the USA.
Tourmalet
Stage site for the 3rd time, col (2,215m) of the Pyrenees in les Hautes-Pyrenees (65), 229 000 inhabitants (Hautes-Pyrenees)
Henri Desgrange experienced much hesitation before including this pass that went on to become legendary on the route of the Tour de France in 1910. Only 110 riders rode up it. Indeed, the Director of the Tour de France was absent from the summit when it was first climbed.
The cable car leading to the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (at an altitude of 2,872 m) leads to the observatory, which has become an important venue in the world of astronomy and science as the years have gone by. Though at one time it was threatened with demolition, it was saved in 1996 and opened to the public in 2000
@ASO